Rhode Island’s dedicated early childhood teachers, center and school leaders, and family child care providers deserve the very best in professional development and training opportunities. To ensure the quality of these opportunities, the Center for Early Learning Professionals—in partnership with Rhode Island’s Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and Department of Children, Youth and Families—is implementing a professional development approval process. Beginning June 1, 2014, all professional development activities for the early childhood workforce must meet certain criteria in order to qualify under the state’s requirements for ongoing professional development.

The system will ensure that professional development offered across the state will:

• Articulate learning objectives and content aligned with Workforce Knowledge and Competency domains and career levels
• Include references that demonstrate ties to research, theory, and best practice
• Establish a learning atmosphere that encourages participants to share their knowledge and experiences and apply learning to their practice
• Demonstrate appreciation of and respect for the unique needs and characteristics of the participants
• Be delivered by individuals who demonstrate deep content knowledge of the topic and understanding of adult learning principles

Professional development providers will be expected to meet the qualifications and expectations found in Rhode Island’s Workforce Knowledge and Competencies Framework for Professional Development Providers and Higher Education Faculty/Staff, once this framework becomes available.