Five Reasons to Earn Your CDA
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re just starting out in the early childhood field, or you’ve been teaching for years, chances are you’ve heard the term CDA at least a few times. The Child Development Associate® (CDA)...
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As we go through the fall and winter, we know educational programs will need to continue to adapt to protect educators and children from COVID-19. As we do so, we must continue to focus on our youngest learners, as we know the benefits that quality early education brings to them.
The Children’s Equity Project (CEP) and the Council for Professional Recognition are committed to working towards equitable learning environments for all children. The work is hard, but we know there are overwhelming benefits to high-quality early childhood programs.
In July, CEP and the Bipartisan Policy Center released a joint report that takes a deep look at the data, research and policy landscapes of equity in early education. Start with Equity—From the Early Years to the Early Grades: Data, Research, and an Actionable Child Equity Policy Agenda presents three key areas that need to be addressed on behalf of disadvantaged children of color and children with disabilities:
Top findings from the report include the following:
“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for every aspect of education, including early childhood programs. It has also revealed the precarious and inequitable state of our learning systems” said CEP founding director Dr. Shantel Meek. “We must all work together to make sure policymakers and others in leadership roles understand this issue is not going away and is particularly challenging for Black, Latinx and Native American children. But we must do more than understand the issues- the time to act is now. We need meaningful change that upends systemic racism and builds a stronger, more equitable learning system for our youngest children.”
Recently, the Council announced its efforts around the quest for equity in education. As part of its work, the Council released the white paper Standing Up for the Best in the American Dream: The Poverty Cycle and the Impact of Pre-K. The paper highlights the Perry Preschool Project, among other research, which focuses on the significant return on investment that high-quality early education can have on vulnerable children.
“All children should have access to equitable learning opportunities,” said Council CEO Dr. Calvin E. Moore Jr. “Research has shown us that there are overwhelming benefits to high-quality early childhood programs. Challenges exist in providing what we know helps Black and Latinx children. But despite those challenges, the Council is committed to working to eliminate structural inequities that hamper our youngest children from achieving their full potential by administering a rigorous national credentialing program that supports the professional development of the educators working with them.”
As we continue to navigate these unprecedented times, we will work to push these important issues forward and look for ways to collaborate with other organizations. All of our youngest learners deserve to be set up for success.
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Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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