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Did You Know That ChildCareEd Has A ...

Free Resource Library - There are many useful articles, forms, and activity templates in our library. Items download as ready-to-print PDFs and include copyright notes, content descriptions, and lists of contextually related trainings. To support continuing professional development and credentialing pathways, ChildCareEd also offers interactive courses such as Creating the Natural Outdoor Classroom Buy Now $16.00 and the comprehensive Birth to Five CDA Credential with Portfolio Review Buy Now $399.00$299.00. These courses are designed to support practitioners' reflective practice, portfolio development, and alignment with common credentialing competencies. Use the resource library and these trainings together to document practice, gather family-facing materials, and plan professional growth.

CDA Club - A new Facebook Group for teachers working on CDA credentials and professional development (PD) specialists to work in a collaborative environment. One can get help with developing their CDA portfolio, use the Club for discussing questions and concerns with CDA classes, and more

Grants Page - You asked it, and we obliged! A new resource is available from the ChildCareED home page. It is a light blue button with a money bag icon and labeled with the word "Grants." The web page will assist home providers, directors, teachers, and aides in finding financial assistance to support programs and activities. As information is gathered, it will be available by state. Just like the state table on the home page, one will be available to check funding in other states. Just click on the state, and the page will display the new information.

Job Board - Our Job Board is going national! Daycare programs in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Washington, DC, Florida, and Massachusetts have listed open positions. A broad range of positions are listed, such as lead teachers, directors, aides, admins, etc. Full-time and part-time listings are welcome. There is a blue "Post a job" button under the page banner. Call the office if you are having trouble listing your position.

New Interactive Online Class Platform Buy Now $16.00 - We have been working hard on updating the online class platform. Classes are more interactive, provide encouragement, and are visually stimulating. Try out the new and improved class platform by signing up for our free class Creating the Natural Outdoor Classroom Buy Now $16.00. You even earn CEUs by taking the class. To sign up later, look on our home page for the green button labeled "Try for Free!"

What resources does ChildCareEd offer and how can I use them?

ChildCareEd aggregates tools for program administrators and classroom teachers: downloadable curriculum supports, printable family handouts, and implementation checklists in our Free Resource Library. For workforce needs, we operate a national Job Board, and a state-indexed Grants page that helps programs locate funding opportunities. To put materials into practice, pair a resource PDF with one of our short courses (for example, the outdoor-classroom course linked above) and document the learning on your program improvement plan. Practical examples and implementation tips are available in related ChildCareEd articles such as Online Early Childhood Courses with ChildCareEd and Child Care Resource Center in North Carolina.

How can ChildCareEd support my CDA or other credentials?

ChildCareEd provides structured coursework and portfolio support to help meet common credentialing education requirements. For a concise, step-by-step guide to pursuing your credential, see Quick and Easy: The CDA Edition. The Birth to Five CDA Credential with Portfolio Review Buy Now $399.00$299.00 is explicitly oriented to the CDA Council's training requirement and includes guided portfolio review. For practitioners seeking scholarships or low-cost options, see our guidance article How to get a CDA for free, What are the benefits of getting a CDA?, and consider joining peer supports such as the CDA Club for portfolio feedback and peer review. For insight on how a CDA affects career trajectory, staff development, and program quality, read a director's perspective on why you should pursue a CDA. Families and program leaders may also find this parent-focused piece useful to explain how a teacher's CDA credential enhances everyday learning, safety, and engagement for children: how a teacher's CDA credential enhances everyday learning and engagement for children. Remember: completing course training supports your portfolio and knowledge, but credential issuance depends on meeting all credentialing body requirements (hours, work experience, verification visits) described by the credentialing organization.

How can I find funding, grants, and job opportunities through ChildCareEd?

Use the Grants page to locate state-specific funding streams and scholarships; combine that search with the Job Board to identify open positions and network with local programs. For practical funding tips and national opportunities, consult the ChildCareEd article Discounts & Deals: Where To Find Free Money For Teachers. If you pursue grant funding tied to professional development, document completed trainings (course certificates) and link them explicitly to the grant’s allowable expenses to speed reimbursement and compliance.

How do I verify state licensing and training requirements for the states named in this article (VA, MA, FL, MD, WA, DE)?

Because licensing, preservice orientation, and annual training requirements vary by state and program type, confirm requirements with your state licensing or early learning agency before relying on a course to satisfy a mandate. For each state named in this article (Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, Washington, Delaware, North Carolina), check the official state child care licensing or early learning agency website and the specific regulation or policy pages to confirm whether online courses, provider approvals, and required topics are accepted for your license type. For example, contact the office that licenses child care in your state — e.g., Virginia’s licensing office, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the Florida Department of Children and Families or Office of Early Learning, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), and Delaware’s licensing agency — to verify accepted training providers, required topics, and approval processes. ChildCareEd also publishes state-focused guidance such as Your CDA Roadmap in Virginia and financing options like Free CDA Training in Virginia. We also publish a Michigan-specific guide explaining the steps to obtain a CDA for child care providers — see How to Obtain Your CDA Credential as a Child Care Provider in Michigan for step-by-step state requirements and application tips.

What should I do next?

Decide one immediate action: enroll in a targeted course (for credential or classroom improvement), download and adapt a resource from the Free Resource Library for your classroom, or create a short grant-search checklist and check your state’s funding table. If you are working on credentialing, start with the Birth to Five CDA course and the portfolio supports, and join the CDA Club for peer review. To keep your documentation organized, keep certificates in a single folder and log dates, course titles, and learning objectives on your professional development plan.

Summary: What are the key takeaways and next steps?

This article highlights ChildCareEd's core supports: the Free Resource Library for ready-to-print curriculum and family handouts, a national Job Board, a state-indexed Grants page, and multiple interactive courses and CDA portfolio supports. Choose one immediate, measurable next step and document it: 1) enroll in a targeted course that fits your role (credential-building or classroom-focused), 2) download and adapt a specific resource from the Free Resource Library and pilot it for two weeks, or 3) run a focused grant search for one allowable expense (training or materials) and save any enrollment receipts or certificates for reimbursement.

If you are pursuing a CDA or other credential, begin by documenting your work hours, completing the appropriate ChildCareEd training bundle, and assembling portfolio artifacts in a single folder (photographs, reflective statements, and family permission forms). Use the CDA Club for peer review and the Birth to Five CDA or CDA Bridge Bundles for guided portfolio support. Keep a dated log of all course certificates and learning objectives to speed credential or grant audits.

Finally, always verify licensing and training acceptance with your state licensing or early learning agency before assuming a course will satisfy a mandated requirement; see the section above for where to start that verification. By choosing one practical action and keeping clear documentation, you convert the resources listed here into measurable professional progress.