Really Stressed Out!! Can I use my CDA to be a Preschool Teacher?!

[nannyde]

I dont know how to add links, but will try.

It says we must posess a CDA, TCC in Early Childhood, Associates Degree in Early Childhood, or a Para-Pro certification...

It keeps saying invalid file...anyone know how to link? I accidently put the link in the middle of your quote...but I think it works, anyway...!!

It looks like the TCC in early childhood is just twenty five hours of class time? Is that right? My state requires 12 hours per year. This would mean 25 hours of class upfront before you started. http://www.dekalbtech.edu/academics/program.php?id=86

That would not be 25 hours of college credits but 25 TOTAL hours of class time to obtain the TCC.

Is that right?

[nannyde]

I have several friends that have already closed....a lot have just decided not to re-register. If we could afford more education, most of us would be in another field to begin with ::...but seriously, where are the benefits?

In all honesty, the incentives to register are gone. The un-registered homes have been advertising in the paper for years and nothing is ever done... yet we are held to such a tight standard and feel our lively hood threatened every day. (no, I don't report them. It just is frustrating to have to compete with that, sometimes.) I am in a very precarious situation in that if I get into trouble with the State for an unregistered daycare, it could cost me my Paramedic Certificaton, also... Catch 22....

Well this is interesting. The "lead teacher" in Centers will have to have this too by 2012

Here are the Center ratios1) A center must establish groupings of children for care and maintain staff:child ratios
as follows:
Ages of Children Staff:Child Ratio* Maximum Group Size
**
Infants less than one (1) year old or children
under eighteen (18) months who are not
walking 1:6 12
One (1) year olds who are walking 1:8 16
Two (2) year olds 1:10 20
Three (3) year olds 1:15 30
Four (4) year olds 1:18 36
Five (5) year olds 1:20 40
Six (6) years and older 1:25 50
(2) Teacher/Lead Caregiver.
(a) A center must have a designated teacher/lead caregiver for each group of children.

The rest of the staff can be: 4) Caregivers/Aides.
(a) A center may employ caregivers/aides to assist the teacher/lead caregiver in the care
of children in any group within the center. No caregiver/aide who is 16 or 17 years of age
shall be solely responsible for children.
(b) Qualifications of Caregivers/Aides.
1. Be at least sixteen (16) years of age;
2. Have current evidence of successful completion of a biennial training program in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a triennial training program in first aid
provided by certified or licensed health care professionals and which covers the provision
of emergency care to infants and children if the caregiver is to be counted as part of the
fifty percent (50%) of the child care staff with the required current evidence of CPR and
first aid training;
3. Participate in the orientation and training required by these rules;
4. Not be suffering from any physical handicap or mental health disorder that would
interfere with the person's ability to perform assigned job duties adequately and in
accordance with these rules;
5. Never have been shown by credible evidence, e.g., a court or jury, a Department
investigation or other reliable evidence to have abused, neglected or deprived a child or
adult or to have subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly
negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement to this
effect at the time of application or at any other time. Upon said request, the caregiver/aide
or staff shall provide this statement to the Department.
6. Not have a criminal record; and
7. Not have made any material false statements concerning qualifications requirements
either to the Department or to the proposed or current licensee or commission holder.

This makes me very suspicious that the Centers were behind this legislation in the first place. It "looks" like the Center staff will have to have a similiar education but in reality when you look at the numbers they really don't. They only have to have one person for each "group" of kids and the allowable group size is HUGE.

Compared to my State:

Our Center staff has to be a one to four ratio from birth to two. Georgia is allowed a one to six for under ones and a one to EIGHT for one year olds. This means 1.5 to 2 X as many kids per adult.

The two year old ratio in my State is 1 to 6, georgia is 1 to 10. The three year old ratio here is 1 to 8 and in Georgia it's 1 to 15. See the math? Even though they may require some education for a few of their staff the "aides" are allowed to have as much as twice the number of kids.

If I were a Center director I'd pick Georgia money wise. The majority of the caregivers can have NO education and the ratios are HUGE.

Do you guys have a Union? These rules will shove the majority of kids into Centers. The adults can have way less education and way more kids than the home provider. That's why it makes me suspicious that the push for these regs actually came from the Centers. Sure they have to have a few Staff with some credentials but considering how big the groups can be it's a really good money deal.

It really shows you that they don't really "get" it. Adult to child ratios are WAY more important in the care of young children than the education of the caregiver. If they wanted to really make a difference they should have limited the adult to child ratio especially in the under three group.

I wish I knew more about the TCC. If that's just 25 hours of class then that's not too unatainable for most providers. Most Centers could afford to do that training with their own employees I would think.

[originalkat]

Those ratios are crazy!! Ours are SOOO much lower than that for centers.

Infants (2 weeks to 12 months) 1 to 3
Toddlers (12 mos. to 2 ½ years if walking alone) 1 to 5
2 years to 3 years 1 to 7
3 years to school age 1 to 12
Kindergarten enrollees 1 to 14
School age 1 to 16

[nannyde]

Those ratios are crazy!! Ours are SOOO much lower than that for centers.

Infants (2 weeks to 12 months) 1 to 3
Toddlers (12 mos. to 2 ½ years if walking alone) 1 to 5
2 years to 3 years 1 to 7
3 years to school age 1 to 12
Kindergarten enrollees 1 to 14
School age 1 to 16

It's the Center staff infant ratio that makes it possible for home day care to even exist in my state. If they increased it to Georgia's we would have a very hard time staying in business. Those two to four extra babies per adult is the a huge amount of profit for the Centers.

Some of these States regs really make me glad to be in my State. YIKES

I would qualify to be a Center director in Georgia but not a home day care provider.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I am a preschool teacher in a Daycare and only get $8/hr. I have my highschool diploma, plus some Early Childhood trainings (but NOT from a college). I have approximately 5 years of direct experience working with young children (I mean lead Child Watch attendant at local YMCA, also a preschool assistant there, then a lead preschool teacher at a Preschool ministry, and now a daycare assistant and lead preshool teacher at a class 2 home daycare. This doesn't count all my years of babysitting, church nursery, camp counseling, etc). Why is so much education required so often to work with young children? If you have a heart for young children, a passion for leading them in the right way, helping them grow up as strong, confident individuals, and experience in the same field you'd like to work in, why would everyone be required to have extra education? Sometimes education just gives a person a "big head" and they go around thinking they are child care experts and know how everything has to be done, but yet when they don't have much experience, all that education is worth nothing because they have no idea that what works for one child won't work for another. Kids are not cookie cutters, so why so much education telling you how children are at certain ages, what they enjoy, and how they'll behave? You can tell me how a 3 yr old will behave, but I know all children are different and will not all behave the same way at any particular age. No two 3 yr olds are alike. So why would someone need 4 yrs of college work when someone with experience (but no college) can do just as well? The only difference I see is in the pay, which isn't right either because a job that pays more to someone with a bachelor's is the same as saying they don't care about experience or common sense. I've known people with an actual degree and I don't know how in the world they got hired! They talk like they know it all and tell everyone how things should be done, but in reality, they have no clue what to do when they're actually placed in charge of a group of children. I've already tried their "method" or whatever, and know from experience that it doesn't work. I believe work places should pay people based on experience rather than college degrees, like they used to.
Thanks for letting me vent. I'm sure many of you with a college degree will disagree, but don't knock me (or others like me) until you meet me, and see me in action. (I admit, I'm nowhere near perfect, I mess up all the time, I wish I knew more what to do in specific situations, but with experience I learn. The areas I have trouble with a person could not learn in a college course. They can only learn with experience).
Sorry, I think that was waaay of topic from what the original poster was asking!

[QualiTcare]

"I'm sure many of you with a college degree will disagree, but don't knock me (or others like me) until you meet me, and see me in action."

um, aren't you asking "us" not to do exactly what you just did?

just sayin.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

"I'm sure many of you with a college degree will disagree, but don't knock me (or others like me) until you meet me, and see me in action."

um, aren't you asking "us" not to do exactly what you just did?

just sayin.

I see your point. I honestly did not mean it that way! I apologize for how that sounded. I guess I was trying to defend myself and others like me when I didn't even need to. My point is just that when so many states require you to have a college degree to work with young children, why doesn't experience and references mean just as much? I can see wanting to make sure the person they have working with young children actually know what they're doing, and take it seriously, but I just wonder why experience can't mean as much. I have known people who don't have a colege degree and work with kids, and I wonder how they ever got hired. But I've wondered that with people who DO have a college degree, also. I am NOT saying that all people with a degree are like I described in my previous post. I have also worked with people with a degree and they are really good, and I really respect them and their knowledge. But usually these people have experience also, and have tried and tested the things taught in early childhood classes, and kept the good ones and threw out the ones that don't work for them.
Soo, long story short, my point is that experience WITH references should mean something too.
I really apologize for how it sounded in my previous post.

[originalkat]

I see your point. I honestly did not mean it that way! I apologize for how that sounded. I guess I was trying to defend myself and others like me when I didn't even need to. My point is just that when so many states require you to have a college degree to work with young children, why doesn't experience and references mean just as much? I can see wanting to make sure the person they have working with young children actually know what they're doing, and take it seriously, but I just wonder why experience can't mean as much. I have known people who don't have a colege degree and work with kids, and I wonder how they ever got hired. But I've wondered that with people who DO have a college degree, also. I am NOT saying that all people with a degree are like I described in my previous post. I have also worked with people with a degree and they are really good, and I really respect them and their knowledge. But usually these people have experience also, and have tried and tested the things taught in early childhood classes, and kept the good ones and threw out the ones that don't work for them.
Soo, long story short, my point is that experience WITH references should mean something too.
I really apologize for how it sounded in my previous post.

Hey, No problem. I started out with no education in ECE and a lot of experiences like the ones you mentioned in your first post. I am glad employers gave me a chance to prove myself. However, I started taking college courses and reading professional development books and it broadened my views and gave me new things to think about and techniques to try. So overall, I think education is a positive all the way around and does add to the quality of care a person can provide. Of course a degree does not mean you necessarily have common sense or any classroom management skills.

[professionalmom]

One thing I have learned in Child Care in the last 30 years is the most kids will go to the least educated worker. The business that has the least educated workers will have the most of the kids.

LIGHT BULB MOMENT!! NOW I get it! That's why I am not full! I'm too educated! It does make some sense though. I have a bachelor's degree, completed 2 trade school certificates, and even went to law school (quit to be a FT mom). I come from a HUGE extended family and have been an aunt since I was 12 years old, so I had TONS of childcare experience long before I became an adult. I can not even remember a time in my life when I did NOT know how to change a diaper (even the old cloth with the safety pins) or fix a bottle. I have a ton of education, coupled with over 25 years of childcare experience, yet my daycare is not full.

But with all my qualifications, I do expect to actually get paid something worthwhile. I know there are some uneducated (less than a GED), untrained, unlicensed people with little to no experience filling up their homes with kids because they are only charging $75-100 per week for full time. Never mind that they are breaking the law (for not being licensed and for being over capacity even if they were licensed). So I lose out. Hmmm... maybe I should start turning some of those law breakers into the authorities.

[QualiTcare]

LIGHT BULB MOMENT!! NOW I get it! That's why I am not full! I'm too educated! It does make some sense though. I have a bachelor's degree, completed 2 trade school certificates, and even went to law school (quit to be a FT mom). I come from a HUGE extended family and have been an aunt since I was 12 years old, so I had TONS of childcare experience long before I became an adult. I can not even remember a time in my life when I did NOT know how to change a diaper (even the old cloth with the safety pins) or fix a bottle. I have a ton of education, coupled with over 25 years of childcare experience, yet my daycare is not full.

But with all my qualifications, I do expect to actually get paid something worthwhile. I know there are some uneducated (less than a GED), untrained, unlicensed people with little to no experience filling up their homes with kids because they are only charging $75-100 per week for full time. Never mind that they are breaking the law (for not being licensed and for being over capacity even if they were licensed). So I lose out. Hmmm... maybe I should start turning some of those law breakers into the authorities.

yeah, it probably is true that the places with the least educated workers have the most kids. they can pay the employees peanuts and keep as many kids as humanly possible as long as there's a warm body present. sounds like a chain to me.

[Former Teacher]

This is quite funny. I worked at ONE center from the age of 17 (8/1991) until the age of 36 (2/2009). I was part time and worked my way up to full time Assistant Director. I was fresh out of HS. The director/owner wanted me to take the CDA course (she wasn't going to pay for it ) so I would get better experiance. I was told by the teacher that it would cost me $350 (back then that was ALOT!) to complete this course. I said ok, and if I fail the test, what happens. Only another $350 until I do pass! Um no thanks ::

So anyway, I laugh because as I said I worked my way up from part time afternoon caregiver to full time Assistant Director. Starting pay: $4.25. Ending pay: $8.00

Yes Assistant Director only making $8.00 an hour. Sad really. I worked my a$$ off. Finally I said enough is enough. It wasn't the kids that burned me out. It wasn't even the parents. It was the staff and the BS that came with them. It was the TX state licensing and the BS with that.

I am now a current nanny to a wondering and loving family. There are times when I just sit down even now over a year later and just sigh and say thank God it's over!

Thanks for the vent guys!

[Golden Rule]

It looks like the TCC in early childhood is just twenty five hours of class time? Is that right? My state requires 12 hours per year. This would mean 25 hours of class upfront before you started. http://www.dekalbtech.edu/academics/program.php?id=86

That would not be 25 hours of college credits but 25 TOTAL hours of class time to obtain the TCC.

Is that right?

Well this is interesting. The "lead teacher" in Centers will have to have this too by 2012

Here are the Center ratios1) A center must establish groupings of children for care and maintain staff:child ratios
as follows:
Ages of Children Staff:Child Ratio* Maximum Group Size
**
Infants less than one (1) year old or children
under eighteen (18) months who are not
walking 1:6 12
One (1) year olds who are walking 1:8 16
Two (2) year olds 1:10 20
Three (3) year olds 1:15 30
Four (4) year olds 1:18 36
Five (5) year olds 1:20 40
Six (6) years and older 1:25 50
(2) Teacher/Lead Caregiver.
(a) A center must have a designated teacher/lead caregiver for each group of children.

The rest of the staff can be: 4) Caregivers/Aides.
(a) A center may employ caregivers/aides to assist the teacher/lead caregiver in the care
of children in any group within the center. No caregiver/aide who is 16 or 17 years of age
shall be solely responsible for children.
(b) Qualifications of Caregivers/Aides.
1. Be at least sixteen (16) years of age;
2. Have current evidence of successful completion of a biennial training program in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a triennial training program in first aid
provided by certified or licensed health care professionals and which covers the provision
of emergency care to infants and children if the caregiver is to be counted as part of the
fifty percent (50%) of the child care staff with the required current evidence of CPR and
first aid training;
3. Participate in the orientation and training required by these rules;
4. Not be suffering from any physical handicap or mental health disorder that would
interfere with the person's ability to perform assigned job duties adequately and in
accordance with these rules;
5. Never have been shown by credible evidence, e.g., a court or jury, a Department
investigation or other reliable evidence to have abused, neglected or deprived a child or
adult or to have subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly
negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement to this
effect at the time of application or at any other time. Upon said request, the caregiver/aide
or staff shall provide this statement to the Department.
6. Not have a criminal record; and
7. Not have made any material false statements concerning qualifications requirements
either to the Department or to the proposed or current licensee or commission holder.

This makes me very suspicious that the Centers were behind this legislation in the first place. It "looks" like the Center staff will have to have a similiar education but in reality when you look at the numbers they really don't. They only have to have one person for each "group" of kids and the allowable group size is HUGE.

Compared to my State:

Our Center staff has to be a one to four ratio from birth to two. Georgia is allowed a one to six for under ones and a one to EIGHT for one year olds. This means 1.5 to 2 X as many kids per adult.

The two year old ratio in my State is 1 to 6, georgia is 1 to 10. The three year old ratio here is 1 to 8 and in Georgia it's 1 to 15. See the math? Even though they may require some education for a few of their staff the "aides" are allowed to have as much as twice the number of kids.

If I were a Center director I'd pick Georgia money wise. The majority of the caregivers can have NO education and the ratios are HUGE.

Do you guys have a Union? These rules will shove the majority of kids into Centers. The adults can have way less education and way more kids than the home provider. That's why it makes me suspicious that the push for these regs actually came from the Centers. Sure they have to have a few Staff with some credentials but considering how big the groups can be it's a really good money deal.

It really shows you that they don't really "get" it. Adult to child ratios are WAY more important in the care of young children than the education of the caregiver. If they wanted to really make a difference they should have limited the adult to child ratio especially in the under three group.

I wish I knew more about the TCC. If that's just 25 hours of class then that's not too unatainable for most providers. Most Centers could afford to do that training with their own employees I would think.

It's the Center staff infant ratio that makes it possible for home day care to even exist in my state. If they increased it to Georgia's we would have a very hard time staying in business. Those two to four extra babies per adult is the a huge amount of profit for the Centers.

Some of these States regs really make me glad to be in my State. YIKES

I would qualify to be a Center director in Georgia but not a home day care provider.

Please don't think I have been avoiding answering.... I just have read, re-read and am frustrated in trying to understand it all. I simply don't know the answers....
At our training classes we get several different answers and nobody seems to have a full understanding of what is expected anymore (granted those instructors are contracted to teach and are as confused as we are by it) .They keep telling me "Oh, don't you worry about it honey, you are grandfathered in." Meanwhile I have had two state visits in a month... More than in the last 4 years...
I only got "gigged" about my having baby oil in the bathroom (toxic chemical? Who knew? I use it everyday.) and not having current "No pay" forms notorized for my professional courtesy kids (fire/ems/hosital on-call) who come occassionally (procrastination, totally my fault). The inspector was really sweet and I actually enjoyed her company, but feel like I am going to be lucky if they don't find a reason (not her personally, but maybe that is the goal of the state?)..... I do understand that if they suspend for any reason, I have to start over.
Maybe I am being paranoid, but I cannot afford (mentally, physically, closest class 2 hours away.) any more time away from home with the amount of training/clinical hours I already have to do yearly for my Paramedic.

If you understand it...I am all ears....and I have only heard of a Childcare Union through this forum.

[lovinggodandpeople]

new to the daycare field please help !!!!!!!!!

This is quite funny. I worked at ONE center from the age of 17 (8/1991) until the age of 36 (2/2009). I was part time and worked my way up to full time Assistant Director. I was fresh out of HS. The director/owner wanted me to take the CDA course (she wasn't going to pay for it ) so I would get better experiance. I was told by the teacher that it would cost me $350 (back then that was ALOT!) to complete this course. I said ok, and if I fail the test, what happens. Only another $350 until I do pass! Um no thanks ::

So anyway, I laugh because as I said I worked my way up from part time afternoon caregiver to full time Assistant Director. Starting pay: $4.25. Ending pay: $8.00

Yes Assistant Director only making $8.00 an hour. Sad really. I worked my a$$ off. Finally I said enough is enough. It wasn't the kids that burned me out. It wasn't even the parents. It was the staff and the BS that came with them. It was the TX state licensing and the BS with that.

I am now a current nanny to a wondering and loving family. There are times when I just sit down even now over a year later and just sigh and say thank God it's over!

Thanks for the vent guys!

Hello , I read your entry and i agree with most of what you said . I have been in this field now for a short time but i am now second guessing myself and asking is this worth it ? I want to go to school to be a elementary school teacher . Is it necessary for me to get my CDA ? or can i just bypass it and go after my Associates ? I don't see myself lasting at my center for long too much drama and the pay is not worth it . I really want to try to get to get into the school system , and surprisingly there are alot of openings . What's your advice ? Thanks . =)

[Michael]

Welcome to the Daycare.com Forum lovinggodandpeople!

[godiva83]

Wow, I knew the pay for child care workers was low - but not that low. That is below poverty line, one must really love working with children to stay in this line of work. Here in Ontario Canada every lead teacher, supervisor, assistant supervisor must have their ECE degrees and also be registered and certified with the College of ECE-- this move I believe has raised the pay scale. I made close to $30/hr being supervisor of a government run daycare centre. I made much more working outside the home than I do running a HDC