Workforce

Research shows that high-quality early childhood education produces substantial long-term educational, social, and economic benefits with the largest benefits for children occurring when teachers are professionally prepared and adequately compensated.

Furthermore, the knowledge and skills required of an effective early education teacher has increased as science has revealed more about the capabilities of young children, how they learn best, and the importance of early learning for later school success. Therefore it is essential that a core component of Rhode Island’s efforts to build a high quality early learning system is a highly qualified workforce with access to a high quality professional development system.

As we transition into the updated 2023 Rhode Island Early Learning and Development Standards (RIELDS), RIDE, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, is adopting the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.   

Background on Workforce Knowledge and Competencies (WKC) 

In 2013 RIDE introduced the Workforce and Knowledge Competencies (WKC’s) for key roles in the early care and education field. WKCs provided the foundation for a high-quality professional development system and were based on research and theory. There were four frameworks: Workforce Knowledge and Competencies for Teachers and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Educators, the Workforce Knowledge and Competencies for Teacher Assistants, the Workforce Knowledge and Competencies for Family Child Care Educators, and the Workforce Knowledge and Competencies for Professional Development Providers, which includes higher education faculty/staff, trainers, and technical assistance providers. Each framework was the result of extensive work of many dedicated individuals across the field of early childhood education and care in this state. They articulated the essential skills and knowledge that educators who work with young children in Rhode Island should know, understand, and be able to do to promote young children's healthy development and learning. The competencies were designed for many purposes including, but not limited to supporting an educator’s individual professional development efforts, helping program administrators’ articulate teacher job expectations and design evaluation processes for staff, and guiding higher education and professional development providers on the creation of curricula for college courses and teacher training offered in the community. 

Future Direction for Professional Competencies in Early Childhood: Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators  

As we transition into the updated 2023 Rhode Island Early Learning and Development Standards (RIELDS), RIDE, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, is pivoting away from the WKC’s, and transitioning to using the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators held by NAEYC and designated in the Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession as the core competencies for the profession.  Rhode Island recognizes the importance of ongoing early education and care research and believes that by adopting the NAEYC Professional Standards and Competencies, we will ensure that our workforce will remain current on best practices.  The Professional Standards (linked below) include Child Development and Learning in Context; Family-Teacher Partnership and Community Connections; Child Observation, Documentation and Assessment; Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices; Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum and; Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator. 

NAEYC has a long history in developing, supporting, and advocating for the early childhood workforce. By adopting these standards and competencies, Rhode Island is positioned to ensure that professional standards are in alignment with national best practice.   

Beginning in Spring 2023, the RIDE Early Learning Team opened all RIELDS PD Trainings for content revision, with an anticipated Summer/Fall 2023 launch. Course revision teams will be mindful to incorporate content from the revised 2023 RIELDS, Early Learning Curriculum Framework, NAEYC’s Professional Standards and Competencies, and other recommended practices into the trainings to build a strengthened and aligned early learning system.  

Download the Statement in English (PDF) 

Descargue la declaracion en espanol (PDF) 

Download the Executive Summary 

The Rhode Island Early Learning Standards Project provides eight (8) professional development opportunities to support early care and education professionals in creating high-quality, standards-aligned programs for young children. Professional development participants receive exceptional training from experienced RI Early Learning Standards Certified Trainers, work in small and large groups, share information, reflect on past and current practice and complete assignments that lead to improved early childhood programs and effective teacher practices..

For information about RI Early Learning and Development Standards Certified Trainers please contact Elaine.Remillard@ride.ri.gov.

The following guide has been created to help individuals and programs identify what qualifies as relevant RIELDS training for BrightStars and the RI Pre-K Program Standards. PLEASE NOTE: these requirements address program standards requirements. Individuals should always select the training that best meets their professional development needs first.

Participants in this nine-hour, three module training session will develop an understanding of the guiding principles that help teachers to use the RI Early Learning and Development Standards to create high quality learning environments for children birth through five years old. Using hands on activities, participants will explore the topics of child development, play and developmentally appropriate practice. 

  • Eligibility: Educators with a RI PreK-2 Teaching Certificate or a CDA or a Child Growth and Development course may opt out of this course. Email elaine.remillard@ride.ri.gov for directions on receiving an exemption certificate.
  • Modality: Virtual; either asynchronous (self-paced modules) or live with a facilitator (Zoom) 
  • Registration: https://center-elp.org/ 

Participants in this nine-hour, three module training session will develop an understanding of children’s learning and development across the RI Early Learning and Development Standards nine domains. Using hands on activities, participants will explore the RIELDS expectations in each domain area and how they connect with children’s learning and development from birth thru five years old.

  • Prerequisites: Participants must have successfully completed The Guiding Principles course (or have received a waiver approval) prior to enrolling in this course.
  • Modality: Virtual; either asynchronous (self-paced modules) or live with a facilitator (Zoom) 
  • Registration: https://center-elp.org/ 

Participants in this twelve-hour, six module, professional development series will be introduced to the components of the instructional cycle as it applies to high-quality infant/toddler, or preschool classrooms. This course will explore how the RIELDS are used as a foundation for developing curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Participants will discuss the core elements of curriculum and assessment, including how to utilize observation and documentation to assess and develop learning opportunities across the nine domains of the RIELDS.

  • Prerequisites: Participants must have successfully completed The Guiding Principles and The 9-Domains trainings to be eligible to enroll in this course. 
  • Modality: Hybrid - In Person and Virtual (Zoom)
  • Registration: https://center-elp.org/ 

Participants in this twelve hour, six module professional development series, will continue to use the RIELDS to understand how to develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum for a high-quality Infant/Toddler or Preschool classroom. The course will explore the core components of the instructional cycle including curriculum, instruction and assessment. Participants will practice using the foundational information, the instructional cycle and the RIELDS to develop and plan appropriate curriculum for the Infant/Toddler or Preschool classrooms.

  • Prerequisites: Participants must have successfully completed the Infant/Toddler, or Preschool Instructional Cycle training (respectively) to be eligible to enroll in this course. 
  • Modality: In Person
  • Registration: https://center-elp.org/ 

This 16-hour, 8 session course for Education Coordinators focuses on understanding the 2023 RIELDS and the Early Learning Curriculum Framework, and how to use this information in implementing a standards-based program. Through this course, Education Coordinators will gain a strong understanding of their role as it relates to supporting the implementation of the instructional cycle in their programs, grounded in the 2023 RI Early Learning and Development Standards and high-quality curricular, instructional, and assessment practices, and related to supportive supervision. Participants in this course should have a strong early childhood background that includes a minimum of an associate degree. This course is equal in difficulty to a 400-level college class. 

  • Prerequisites: Participants must have successfully completed the Guiding Principles, 9-Domains, Infant/Toddler, or Preschool Instructional Cycle, and the Infant/Toddler or Preschool Curriculum and Planning (respectively) courses to be eligible to enroll in this course. 
  • Modality: Hybrid (in-person and virtual/Zoom)
  • Registration: https://center-elp.org/ 

This 10-hour, 5 session course for Early Childhood Administrators focuses on understanding the 2023 RIELDS and the Early Learning Curriculum Framework, and how to use this information in implementing a standards-based program. Through this course, Administrators will gain a strong understanding of their role as it relates to supporting the implementation of the instructional cycle in their programs that are rounded in the 2023 RI Early Learning and Development Standards and high-quality curricular, instructional, and assessment practices; building strong family and staff relationships and systems of support; and informing programmatic decisions. Participants in this course should have a strong early childhood background that includes a minimum of an associate degree. This course is equal in difficulty to a 400-level college class.

  • Prerequisites: Participants must have successfully completed The 9-Domains course.
  • Modality: In Person
  • Registration: https://center-elp.org/ 

RIDE Workforce Registry Report

The State of Early Childhood Higher Education in Rhode Island: The Rhode Island Early Childhood Higher Education Inventory

The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) at the University of California, Berkeley, was asked to investigate early childhood higher education opportunities available to the state’s early learning workforce. The Inventory describes the early childhood degree programs offered in the state, focusing on variation in program content, age group focus, student field-based learning, and faculty characteristics. This information allows the Council and other stakeholders to identify gaps and opportunities in the available offerings, and to assess the capacity of the higher education system over time. This document presents the Inventory findings.