Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Education has awarded nine additional Iowa school districts nearly $600,000 in competitive grants following a successful pilot program last summer, and one of them is in our area.
The Department of Education (DOE) tells us the grants support districts in aligning family and consumer science programs with student attainment of a national child development credential. The Credentials to Child Care Careers grant leverages school-community partnerships to expand access to child care while supporting high school students earning a Child Development Associate credential.
The Central Lyon Community School District, headquartered in Rock Rapids is one of the schools receiving funding. Just outside our area, the Le Mars Community School District is also receiving funding.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says, “It’s important to recognize the connection between child care and a successful workforce. Parents need a childcare solution that meets the demands of their busy lives and we need to grow and support strong local solutions. I commend each of these nine district awardees for their forward-looking approach to prepare young Iowans to be career-ready upon graduation, while also supporting local businesses in building their workforce pipeline.”
Other schools in Iowa receiving a Credentials To Child Care Careers grant through this latest round of funding include
- Charles City Community School District
- Clear Creek Amana Community School District
- Des Moines Public Schools
- Harlan Community School District
- Iowa City Community School District
- Marshalltown Community School District
- Woodbine Community School District
Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow says, “We were proud to partner with five school districts last summer to create and grow programs that empower students to earn an in-demand child care credential while building a child care workforce pipeline that is of and for local communities. Informed by the success of these programs last fall, we opened this opportunity statewide to support more school districts in strengthening pathways to in-demand child development careers for students while supporting working families.”
The DOE says the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is a nationally recognized credential in early childhood education awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition, a leader in the credentialing of early childhood educators worldwide. Obtaining the CDA credential requires coursework, experience in the field, and a demonstration assessment during which the student is observed while working with children.
District awardees will receive course curriculum that meets both the professional development requirements outlined by Iowa Health and Human Services for employees of Iowa licensed child care centers and the classroom requirements for a CDA credential. Additionally, districts can use their grant awards to cover allowable costs, such as student exam fees, textbooks, CDA course materials, student stipends, licensed childcare partner stipends, and other approved expenses that help remove barriers to participation.
More information about the Credentials to Child Care Careers Grant is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website on the Industry-Recognized Credentials page.
