New Cooperative Agreement to Improve Early Childhood Workforce Development

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The Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC), funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Education, will continue and build on the work of the current Early Childhood Personnel Center to increase the capacity of State IDEA Part C and B/619 administrators, along with administrators in other early childhood service sectors and early childhood faculty teaching at institutions of higher education to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families across the country.

ECPC Funding Announcement

The purpose of this Center is threefold:

  1. To increase the capacity of state systems to implement, scale up, and sustain a coordinated comprehensive system of personnel development (CSPD) to ensure local personnel have the competencies to deliver high-quality services and inclusive programs to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families;
  2. To increase the knowledge, skills, and competencies of State (and Territory) IDEA Part C and B/619 administrators to lead systemic improvement efforts, actively engage in broader early childhood initiatives, and build more effective and sustainable systems that can support a competent early childhood workforce to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families; and
  3. To increase the knowledge, skills, and competences of early childhood faculty teaching at institutions of higher education, along with other professional development staff, to align programs of study to state and national professional organization personnel standards, utilize adult learning principles, and integrate Division of Early Childhood recommended practices into programs of study.

“We are so pleased to announce another 5 years of funding to continue the work of the Early Childhood Personnel Center. We look forward to expanding our work with our Partner Organizations and TA centers, State Early Childhood Systems, Institutions of Higher Education and other stakeholders!”
– Dr. Mary Beth Bruder, Principal Investigator on the project

Dr. Bruder, current Director of the Early Childhood Personnel Center, has put together a national team to carry out the work of this project. In partnership with the UConn UCEDD, dozens of nationally and internationally recognized organizations, institutions of higher education and highly experienced national leaders will continue to build upon the efforts of the Early Childhood Personnel Center.