Commonwealth University receives 5th year of program funding to support early childhood educators

Commonwealth University (CU) has been awarded a fifth year of funding from the Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization at PASSHE (ECEPDO@PASSHE) to break down barriers and build greater career pathways for early childhood educators. In addition to this award, a representative of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced that ECEPDO@PASSHE grant recipients would be awarded an additional year of funding for Program Year 6.

The ECEPDO@PASSHE’s focus across the 62 Pennsylvania counties it covers is to help students overcome traditional barriers to professional development through higher education. To do this, the ECEPDO@PASSHE provides support in tuition, technology, translation services and other learning supports to students who qualify by working a minimum of 25 hours per week in a state-licensed early child care setting and meet wage requirements.

This support includes online classes, which are often the only functional modality for students with life commitments including work and family responsibilities in addition to their own educational journeys. Students are able to transfer classroom theory directly into workplace practices that immediately benefit the young children and their families with whom they engage. 

The three child development associate (CDA) courses offered by Commonwealth University help students to meet the requirements to earn the nationally recognized CDA credential. This entry-level pre-kindergarten credential consists of nine college credits that are both stackable and transferable. Students who earn their CDA credential may continue on to an associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with Commonwealth University or other partnering ECEPDO@PASSHE institutions.

To date, 99 Commonwealth University students supported by the ECEPDO@PASSHE grant funds have completed all coursework toward their CDA credential. Two students have completed their bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, while 14 are currently working toward their early childhood education degree, supported by ECEPDO@PASSHE grant funds.

Lauren F., a student taking an ECEPDO-funded CDA course at CU shared that she has learned about observation tools she can now implement in her classroom practice. She noted she is learning more about early childhood resources that can help her with teaching and caring for the children in the center where she works.

Mariah R., a CU early childhood education bachelor’s degree student, completed the CDA coursework as a step toward her ultimate goal of earning her teaching degree. “My coursework helps me to grow in my work as a teacher by learning and trying new things in my classroom that I am learning in my courses,” she said. “Many things that we are learning about in my college classes, I am able to connect to scenarios where I have seen this before. I am a hands-on learner; my heart belongs in the classroom and thankfully, I can work and continue my schooling, thanks to the ECEDPDO grant for their financial and mentorship support.”