Make Your Voice Heard: Participate in the Johns Hopkins University School of Education Survey - post

As professionals in Maryland's early childhood education field, your voice shapes policy and practice. ChildCareEd offers training to support professional advancement, for example CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now $500.00$400.00 and the CDA Bridge Bundle: Preschool (30 hours) Buy Now $300.00, both commonly used by providers working toward credentialing. The Johns Hopkins University School of Education invites Maryland ECE professionals to take a short survey about the state's early care and education system. The Johns Hopkins invitation and survey offer a chance to earn a Participation Acknowledgment Unit (PAU) and to be entered to win a $100 gift card. This article explains what PAUs are in Maryland, what activities commonly count, and the steps you should take to document and confirm PAU credit for your Maryland Child Care Credential. #ECE #CDA #Maryland #PAUs #ProfessionalDevelopment

How do PAUs relate to the Maryland Child Care Credential Program?

The Maryland Child Care Credential Program recognizes the vital role that early childhood educators and childcare providers play in children's lives. Within Maryland's credentialing framework, Participation Acknowledgment Units (PAUs) document professional learning and engagement that support career progression and program quality. PAUs are awarded for approved professional activities; whether a specific activity counts depends on the Maryland credential level and the accepting registry or credentialing authority. Before assuming credit, confirm PAU acceptance with your employer, your local training registry, or the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) office that handles credentialing. For practical guidance on training and pathways toward credentialing, see ChildCareEd's overview of earning a CDA in Maryland: Earning Your CDA in Maryland.

What professional activities count for PAUs?

Survey participation is one example of a professional activity that may be eligible for PAUs. Many approved activities fall into practical categories; below are common examples and how they typically map to PAUs in Maryland settings.

• Research, evaluation, and surveys: Contributing to research or completing professionally run surveys (for example, the Johns Hopkins study) often qualifies when the study organizer supplies PAU documentation. Save confirmation emails and any PAU acknowledgement you receive. (Related resource: ChildCareEd: Advancing Early Childhood Education Online.)
• Workshops, trainings, and formal coursework: Instructor-led workshops, accredited online courses, and formal training commonly earn PAUs. ChildCareEd's training packages (for example, the CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now $500.00$400.00) provide documented hours and certificates useful for PAU claims.
• Workforce development activities: Activities that improve program quality or staff skills—peer coaching, curriculum development, and mentoring—are frequently accepted. For providers working toward a CDA or improving credentials, see Boost Your ECE Career: Invest in the CDA Credential!.
• Professional leadership and community contributions: Serving on advisory committees, presenting at conferences, or helping design local initiatives can count as PAUs when documented by the organizer. If you plan to use PAUs toward a credential, verify the documentation format required by your registry.

How can I participate and ensure I receive a PAU?

If you plan to claim a PAU for completing this survey, follow a short documentation workflow to make verification with your registry and employer straightforward:

1. Complete the survey and save a screenshot or the confirmation message/email sent by the survey administrator.
2. Request a formal Participation Acknowledgment Unit (PAU) or certificate from the Johns Hopkins study team. Keep the PAU name, number of units/hours, date, and issuer on file.
3. Contact the Maryland registry or your credentialing office (or your employer's training coordinator) to confirm how to submit PAU documentation for your specific credential level. Requirements vary by credential and registry; keep copies of all certificates and screenshots.

For procedural guidance about using training toward credentials in Maryland, see ChildCareEd resources such as How to get a CDA for free and Your Maryland 90-Hour Certification Can Help You Work Toward a CDA.

To join this conversation and enter the drawing for a $100 gift card, take the survey here: https://bit.ly/3QrmOt1. After completing the survey, save any confirmation and ask the survey administrator for a PAU acknowledgement or certificate. If you plan to apply the PAU to a Maryland credential, confirm the submission process with MSDE or your local registry (retain all documentation).

What should I do next?

Summary: Participating in the Johns Hopkins survey can yield both professional influence and a documented PAU if the study issues one. After you complete the survey, save confirmation, request PAU documentation from the study team, and verify acceptance with your Maryland registry or MSDE office before applying the PAU to your credential. To move forward with formal training that supports credentials, explore ChildCareEd courses such as the CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now $500.00$400.00 and the CDA Infant/Toddler Credential Buy Now $400.00$300.00, and review practical guides like Learn How To Become Credentialed and ChildCareEd: Advancing Early Childhood Education Online. If you need low-cost or grant-supported options, see How to get a CDA for free.

What are the next steps and how should I document PAUs?

Summary: If you plan to use a Participation Acknowledgment Unit (PAU) toward a Maryland credential, follow a consistent documentation and verification routine so your professional learning can be accepted by your registry, employer, or MSDE office. The steps below translate the guidance in this article into a simple record-keeping workflow and decision checklist.

1. Obtain formal proof of the PAU: Request a written PAU acknowledgement or certificate from the survey or study administrator. The acknowledgement should include the activity name, issuer, date, and number of units/hours. Save the original certificate and any confirmation emails or screenshots.
2. Record essential details: In your training log, record the activity title, date completed, number of PAUs/hours, organizer name and contact, and file name/location for the certificate. Preserve any email or web confirmation that links the PAU to your name or professional role.
3. Confirm acceptance before applying: Contact your local registry, MSDE credentialing office, or your employer's training coordinator to confirm whether the PAU is acceptable for your credential level and what submission format they require (upload portal, paper copy, or email). Requirements can vary by credential and registry, so get explicit guidance for your situation.
4. Prepare your submission package: When you apply the PAU to a credential, include (1) the original PAU acknowledgement/certificate, (2) a short cover note explaining how the activity relates to your professional practice, and (3) any supporting materials (for example, a survey confirmation or IRB letter if supplied). Keep copies for your own record.
5. Track decisions and appeals: Record the registry decision (accepted, accepted with conditions, or not accepted), the date of the decision, and the contact person. If a PAU is not accepted, ask for the reason and whether additional documentation or a different submission format could lead to acceptance.
6. Use PAUs strategically: Combine PAUs with formal coursework and documented training to support credential progression. PAUs can supplement formal hours but are not a substitute for state-required preservice or minimum training hours unless the accepting authority confirms otherwise.

Practical checklist for your file: (1) PAU certificate or acknowledgement, (2) confirmation emails/screenshots, (3) registry submission receipt (if any), (4) registry decision and contact details, and (5) cross-reference to the credential application where you used the PAU. Retaining a clear, dated audit trail simplifies later renewals, transfers between registries, or credential upgrades.

Note: Because this article names Maryland, confirm any specific acceptance rules with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) or your local training registry before relying on a PAU for credential credit. If editorial staff can supply the authoritative MSDE guideline URL or state regulation citation, add it here for readers seeking the official rule.

Thank you for lending your expertise. Your input to the Johns Hopkins study and your commitment to documented professional learning help strengthen Maryland’s early childhood system. #PAUs #CDA #Maryland