Quality Start Louisiana

Staff Qualifications

Give Your Staff the Recognition They Deserve.

Simply by enrolling in the Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System, your employees will get the credit they deserve. Louisiana Pathways offers your staff a clear guide to follow in their career development. By tracking their continuing training, they become eligible for more tax credits under the School Readiness Tax Credit program.

Enrollment in Louisiana Pathways is easy. Using a computer, go to the Louisiana Pathways website and click on Career Development and then Enrollment Form. Download the necessary enrollment application and employment verification documents. Complete the forms and mail to 1800 Warrington Place, Shreveport, LA 71101, along with any training hours clocked, college transcripts, a current Child Development Associate credential or other documentation of training or education you have received in early child care and education. You will receive back a letter and/or a certificate stating which level you have achieved on the Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System ladder. The letter will also tell you what is needed to progress to the next level.

A well-trained professional staff contributes to quality care for infants and toddlers. Here are some concrete ways to encourage your staff to participate:

  • Set a good example. Be sure that you are enrolled in the Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System, pursuing increased training, leadership and professional development.
  • Talk about it. At staff meetings or gatherings, talk with staff about the importance of making child care a professional career path with specific continuation of education, practical experience and enrolling in Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System.
  • Enroll your newly hired staff. As soon as you have selected a new staff member, enroll them in Louisiana Pathways.
  • Use the Director’s Report. Request a Director’s Report from Louisiana Pathways as a means of knowing who from your center is enrolled in Louisiana Pathways and who is still listed on the report but has been terminated. Send Louisiana Pathways a termination letter or email on those staff that no longer work at your center so that the staff member can be removed from your Director’s Report. For those not enrolled, encourage them to enroll as soon as possible.
  • Show interest. Regularly check with staff regarding their use of the Louisiana Pathways career ladder. Do they understand the benefits of Louisiana Pathways? Encourage staff to attend courses that would increase their knowledge, skill and movement on the career ladder.
  • Give incentives. Give staff time off to attend classes or workshops, and to complete Louisiana Pathways information. Give small incentives, i.e., gifts, cards, letters of encouragement and recognition, raises to staff taking advantage of the professional development opportunities.
  • Hire credentialed staff. If a prospective staff member is already enrolled in Louisiana Pathways and receiving tax credits through SRTC, then they will be inclined to continue to participate, and may even be able to convince other staff members to enroll. Use these credentialed staff as examples to other staff.

Quality Start Staff Qualifications

[expand]One Star

[close] Director

  1. On-site full-time director who is at least 21 years old.
  2. Meet director qualifications in LA Administrative Code, Title 67, Chapter 73.

Teacher

  1. 18 years or older.
  2. Within one week of employment staff, receive orientation, with content as specified, followed by four days of supervised work with children.
  3. Complete required annual clock hours of approved training.
  4. Meet staff qualifications as identified in LA Administrative Code, Title 67, Chapter 73.

[expand]Two Stars

[close]

Directors and teachers must join and maintain a record with the Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System. Director must attend three hours of Introduction to ERS training.

Director (On Site)

  1. Three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and
  2. Three semester hour credits in administration3 and
  3. One year of experience in teaching young children in an early childhood program.

Assistant Director

  1. Three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development.2

Teacher

  1. 75% of lead teachers must meet one of the following:
    • Complete a three semester hour credit course in the care of young children or child development2 from a list of approved courses, or enroll in the course and complete within one year of employment.

[expand]Three to Five Stars

[close]

One Point

All teachers and directors complete three hours of Introduction to ERS training.

Director (On Site)

  1. Six semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and
  2. Three semester hour credits in administrative coursework3 and
  3. One year of experience teaching young children in an early childhood program.

Assistant Director

  1. Three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development.2

Lead Teacher

  1. All lead teachers must complete three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development from a list of approved courses2 or enroll in the course and complete the course within one year of employment.

Assistant Teacher

  1. Fifty percent of assistant teachers must have completed or be enrolled in three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and complete the course within one year of employment.

Two Points

All teachers and directors complete three hours of Introduction to ERS training.

Director

  1. Nine semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development,2 and
  2. Three semester hour credits in administrative coursework3 and
  3. One year of teaching experience and one year teaching or administrative experience in an early childhood program.

Assistant Director

  1. Three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development and
  2. Three semester hour credits in administrative coursework3 and
  3. One year of experience in teaching young children in an early childhood program.

Lead Teacher

  1. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must have completed six semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 from a list of approved courses or have completed three semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or related coursework2 and complete the course within one year of employment, and
  2. One year of full-time experience in an early childhood setting.

Assistant Teacher

  1. Fifty percent of assistant teachers must have completed or be enrolled in three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and complete the course within one year of employment.

Three Points

Directors and all teachers complete three hours of Introduction to ERS and three hours of Understanding ERS training. Directors and lead teachers complete training in social-emotional screening of children. Director completes training in Louisiana’s Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses information from Louisiana’s Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards: Birth through Three (DSS, October 2006) and the Louisiana Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE, June 2003).

Director

  1. Twelve semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and
  2. Six semester hour credits of administrative coursework3 and
  3. Three years of experience in an early childhood setting as follows: At least one year of teaching experience and at least one year of administrative experience and one year of either teaching or administrative experience.

Assistant Director

  1. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must have completed nine semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development from a list of approved courses or have completed six semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or related coursework2 and complete the course within one year of employment, and
  2. One year of full-time experience in an early childhood setting.

Lead Teacher

  1. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must have completed nine semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development from a list of approved courses or have completed six semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or related coursework2 and complete the course within one year of employment, and
  2. One year of full-time experience in an early childhood setting.

Assistant Teacher

  1. Fifty percent of assistant teachers must have completed three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development.2

Four Points

Directors and all teachers complete three hours of Introduction to ERS and three hours of Understanding ERS training. Director and all teachers complete training in social-emotional screening of children. Directors and lead teachers complete training in Louisiana’s Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses information from Louisiana’s Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards: Birth through Three (DSS, October 2006) and the Louisiana Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE, June 2003).

Director

  1. Fifteen semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and
  2. Six semester hour credits of administrative coursework3 and
  3. Four years of experience in an early childhood setting as follows: At least one year of teaching experience and at least one year of administrative experience and two years of either teaching or administrative experience.

Assistant Director

  1. Three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and
  2. Three semester hour credits in administrative coursework3 and
  3. One year of experience in teaching young children in an early childhood program.

Lead Teacher

  1. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must have completed 12 semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development from a list of approved courses or have completed nine semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or related coursework2 and complete the course within one year of employment, and
  2. Two years of full-time experience in an early childhood setting.

Assistant Teacher

  1. All assistant teachers must have completed three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development.2

Five Points

Directors and all teachers and directors complete three hours of Introduction to ERS and three hours of Understanding ERS training. Directors and all teachers complete training in social-emotional screening of children. Directors and all teachers complete training in Louisiana’s Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses information from Louisiana’s Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards: Birth through Three (DSS, October 2006) and the Louisiana Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE, June 2003).

Director

  1. Associate’s degree in the care of young children, child development or related field, with specific coursework in infant-toddler care and the care of exceptional children or equivalent, such as Director III Louisiana Pathways, and
  2. Six semester hour credits of administrative coursework3 and
  3. Five years of experience in an early childhood setting as follows: At least one year of teaching experience and at least one year of administrative experience, and three years of either teaching or administrative experience.

Assistant Director

  1. Six semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 and
  2. Three semester hour credits in administration3 and
  3. One year of experience in teaching young children in an early childhood program.

Lead Teacher

  1. All lead teachers must have six semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 from a list of approved courses, ,b>and
  2. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must have completed 15 semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development2 from a list of approved courses or have completed 12 semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or related coursework2 and complete the course within one year of employment, and
  3. Two years of full-time experience in an early childhood setting for all teachers.

Assistant Teacher

  1. All assistant teachers must have completed six semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development or have completed three semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or related coursework2 and complete the course within one year of employment.

Substitutions allowed for Staff Qualifications

2The following may be substituted to meet this requirement of three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development:

  • CDA, or
  • have approved high school child development courses or have five years of full-time experience in an early childhood program, or
  • have completed a Child Care Assistant Teacher 1 Louisiana Pathways Classroom Certificate.

The following may be used to meet the requirement of up to six semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development:

  • CDA, or
  • have completed a Child Care Assistant Teacher 2 Louisiana Pathways Classroom Certificate.

An individual may use the above substitutions to meet the requirements for a maximum of six semester hour credits.

3The following may be substituted to meet the requirement for three semester hour credits in administration:

  • Louisiana Pathways Administrator Certificate, or
  • National Administrator Credential (NAC), or
  • three years of experience in administration, or
  • a combination of one year in administration experience and four years in teaching young children in an early childhood program.

Note for Director Qualification: Experience in teaching young children or administration may only be substituted one time. At the next Quality Start review, the necessary educational requirement (credits in the care of young children or child development or credits in administration) must be met.

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