Frequently Asked Questions​

If you launch a program, please let us know at [email protected] and [email protected]

Does the student have to be part of Educator’s Rising to participate?

• No, you do not need to be an Educators Rising member. We will encourage students to consider joining the student organization as a way to connect and see further educational opportunities. 

Could you provide the dates that the Educators Rising cohorts will run?  

• ​The first class is tentatively set for Tuesday Sept 5th and will run till December for the first semester. We know that schools have different calendars and Sanford Child Services will work with us as we navigate that. Communication will be key early and often on that, but once we get the green light that this is FREE, we will have a calendar ready to go as well.  

What materials will students need to have for this course? Are most online?  

• They will receive the workbook and any other additional material from Sanford Child Services at no charge. We will work through that with the schools that sign up students for the cohorts.

Does the student already need to be employed in the field to begin?

• No students do not need to be employed to enroll. There will be options for them to consider for employment to get their 480 hours completed. 

How will students register?

• Sanford Child Services will have a registration process that we follow. They are developing that right now to launch once we get the green light.   

Who will the course be taught by?  Is there a postsecondary partner offering college credit for completion?

• ​The course will be taught by an Early Childhood Educator hired by Sanford Child Services. We are working with STC and a pathway for their Associates Degree. DSS is working with SDSU for an agreement for the CDA and their bachelor’s program for Early Childhood. There would be no credit for the CDA, but if they have the credential, we are working that it would come in and replace some credits needed. Some schools in other states have given up to 9 credits for the CDA in their program so we are working to see what that may look like for STC and SDSU. Still more work on this, but the conversations have been started.

​What is the CDA® Handbook for High School: A Guide to Advocacy and Implementation?

• The Child Development Associate® (CDA) Handbook for High School: A Guide to Advocacy and Implementation is for instructors, school faculty and administrators interested in developing a high school CDA® training program. This publication will prepare you to launch and sustain a CDA® program at your school and across your district.

Does a high school CTE/CDA® program require permission from or application to the Council of Professional Recognition to connect courses with the CDA or to launch a program?

• No. Neither a permission from nor application to the Council for Professional Recognition is required. However, the courses/program must adhere to all CDA® requirements.

Does this program fit into most state CTE pathways?

• Yes. The high school CTE/CDA® program fits into many state pathways. Please refer to the Handbook, “Chapter 1: Career Pathways in Early Childhood Education.” This chapter provides early childhood education (ECE) employment information, including ECE career ladders and detailed information on “The CDA® as a Career Pathway.” This chapter also provides links to state-specific policies for your reference.

Does this program work in rural high schools as well as urban and suburban schools?

• Yes. The Council for Professional Recognition assesses candidates in any child care facility that meets state licensing regulations, including those facilities or programs legally exempt from licensing, such as church and military programs.

What are the student requirements for completing a CDA® High School program?

• The student must be a junior or senior enrolled in a high school career and technical education program (though the student may begin training/classes as a freshman or sophomore).
• The student must complete 120 clock hours of professional early childhood education, covering the growth and development of children (setting specific), with no fewer than 10 hours in each of the Council for Professional Recognition’s eight CDA® subject areas.
• The student must complete 480 hours of experience within the last three years working with children (setting specific). Experience may be as paid staff or as a volunteer.
• The student must complete a CDA® Professional Portfolio and Family Questionnaires: o Each student’s portfolio must also contain a copy of an official letter (from their school principal or teacher) on school letterhead or a certificate verifying 120 clock hours of training.

Is the CDA Professional Portfolio required to be printed, or can it be digital?

• Students can organize their portfolios online or as a printed collection of the required documents. Examples and guidance for both printed and online portfolios are available in the Handbook, “Chapter 6: Getting Started: Implementing a CDA® Program in Your High School.” ECE students should begin collecting documents to add to their portfolio as soon as they have completed the entry-level course and either expressed an interest in completing the CDA® Career Pathway or securing a job in which they will work with young children. 

What settings can a student work in?
High school students can work in the following settings:

1. Center-Based Infant and Toddler with children ages birth to 36 months
2. Center-Based Preschool with children ages 3-5 years old
3. Home-Based Family Child Care with children birth to 5 years old

What types of experience working with children can count towards the CDA® experience hours?
Do volunteer work hours count?

• High school students can accumulate the 480 hours of experience working in a child care program as either a paid staff member or volunteer.
• For example, accepted experiences include work in a child care program serving children within the candidate’s school, or one within the candidate’s community. The candidate’s experience must be with children of the same age and in the same setting as the type of credential the candidate aspires to earn.

Who is responsible for paying the CDA® application fee?

• The applicant pays the CDA® application fee. However, if CDA® assessment fee scholarships are available in your state or district, students should apply for these before spring to ensure they can receive application funding, submit their CDA® applications and complete the assessment process prior to graduating from high school. Students who are eligible for scholarships generally receive an eligibility notice from the funder, followed by a letter and voucher code (though some programs send checks directly to the Council.) Please follow up with your school for options on what is available here in South Dakota as we have options to help with this. 

To implement this high school program, is there a standard curriculum, and what are some of the ways that students can earn the required 120 hours?

• We encourage options for meeting this requirement to be diverse and responsive to specific community needs and program structures. Whether a high school offers early childhood education in the form of traditional electives, a series of course selections, an academy model and/or a structured career pathway; high schools can be creative in the organization of the education component as long as the curriculum includes the content of the required eight CDA® subject areas.
• Please refer to the Handbook, “Chapter 2: Earning a CDA® in High School.” This section includes: “Benefits of Earning a CDA® in High School;” “Types of High School CDA® Preparation Programs (Traditional Elective, Dual Enrollment and Dual Credit);” and, “Establishing Career and Technical Education (CTE) Articulation Models with Institutions of Higher Education.”

What is the process for applying for the CDA® and taking the exam?

• Once high school students are near the end of their final semester in a CDA® high school program, they are required to either set up a YourCouncil account and complete the application online (to save $75, as online applications are discounted) or complete the CDA® paper application provided in the back of each CDA® Competency Standards Book.
• Important note: High school students seeking to apply for the CDA® cannot submit their application until they have met ALL prerequisite requirements: 480 hours of experience, 120 hours of training and completion of the professional portfolio.
• The CDA® Exam is a 65-question, computer-based exam that candidates must take at a local Pearson VUE testing site. CDA® exam questions test the candidate’s knowledge of basic early childhood best practices, based on the CDA® Competencies Goals and Functional Areas.