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The Early Childhood Education Profession: The Role of the Child Development Associate Credential

NNPA NEWSWIRE — CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education, and it is a key steppingstone on the path of career advancement in the sector.

Published

3 months ago

March 3, 2025

Oakland Post

By Lauren Brooks, Council for Professional Recognition

The recent Early Educators Leadership Conference (EELC) was an opportunity for early childhood educator leaders to network and learn from one another. The Council for Professional Recognition organized the conference and engaged several trailblazers in the field to discuss the importance of high-quality early childhood education and the impact of the Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education, and it is a key steppingstone on the path of career advancement in the sector. The CDA is based on a core set of competency standards that guide early childhood professionals toward becoming qualified educators of young children. The Council works to ensure that the nationally transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development.

Lauren Brooks with the Council interviewed Dr. Kim Krzanowski, executive director of the Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University. They discussed the impact of the CDA and the Council on early childhood educators and the communities they serve.

Lauren: Please tell us about your journey and current role in the field of early childhood education.

Dr. Kim Krzanowski: I’ve been in the field of early childhood for about 20 years. I started as an infant toddler teacher and went on to become a preschool teacher. I was a director for quite a few years and then I wanted to figure out how I could support the workforce in a different way. So, I landed in higher education.

Lauren: Why should people care about early childhood education?

Dr. Krzanowski: It’s the most fundamental priority in the world. Children are the most precious cargo that we have and to not prioritize their health, well-being, and education is insane to me. I’ve seen what happens when children receive a quality start in life. As a result, I’m a staunch advocate for this work. It should literally be on the top of everyone’s docket, and everyone’s priority. We cannot expect people to thrive and grow if they do not have a quality fundamental start. And that start is early childhood education.

Lauren: How does having a Child Development Associate credential allow early childhood educators to provide a quality start for young children?

Dr. Krzanowski: I’ve seen the difference the CDA makes in classrooms and with educators. When an educator walks in and says I have a CDA, suddenly their confidence shines and you also see their confidence in classrooms with children day in and day out. So, the importance of the CDA is that it is the signal that keeps shining to the rest of the world indicating that early childhood educators are here to stay, they are vital, they are important, and earning the credential is the best first step that they can take in their career trajectory.

Lauren: Who do you encourage to earn a CDA?

Dr. Krzanowski: If you have a passion for working with children, and you want to really set yourself up for success, then you should earn a CDA. CDA allows you to think about the competencies, practices, and best practices that you are learning while you’re completing your portfolio, getting ready for your observation, and preparing for the exam. It puts you in a place where you are ready to be the best educator that you can be. It is really the thing that catapults ECE educators to the next level in their careers.

Lauren: How can you tell that a CDA has made a difference in the way an educator teaches young children?

Dr. Krzanowski: When I walk into an early childhood program, the first thing that I do is listen. I listen to the voices of children and the voices of adults. I can tell pretty much instantaneously what kind of training and professional development credentials people have. It’s all about the demeanor, professionalism and the tone. When I hear educators engage with children at a child’s level and talk about investigating, exploring words, language, and science, that is not something that you just pull out of a hat. That’s something that you learn and through the process of obtaining your CDA, learning that is embedded into the program. So, when I walk through, you can pretty much pinpoint educators who have gone through the CDA program, some who have not, and some who are in the middle. You see differences in the way people talk, act, and their responses to situations in the classroom. They understand those competencies and their living and breathe them in the classroom.

Lauren: What’s exciting about ECE today?

Dr. Krzanowski: I think just about the fact that you have the potential to change someone’s life, not even potentially, you ARE changing someone’s life when you are in a classroom of children. Whether you work with infants, toddlers, or preschoolers, you can influence their trajectory. Providing children with a high-quality early education gives them the foundation to be successful as they grow and learn and move into kindergarten and beyond.

Lauren: Can you tell us more about your program? And how did you incorporate the CDA into your program?

KK: The Early Childhood Innovation Center was a dream that I had for a very long time. I knew that we had to do something big and bold. So, we knew that the CDA would play an important role in the development of this program, and it has. I’m excited to say that we opened our program in 2023 and last year, we celebrated over 200 CDAs at a recognition event. Those are numbers that Delaware has not seen ever. So, it’s very, very exciting. We have a saying that we use: “Insist on Success.” It doesn’t matter what’s going on in a person’s life, we want to make sure that they can walk across that stage and obtain that CDA.

Lauren: That’s a huge emphasis on the CDA! Why did you feel that the CDA was so important to weave into the program versus perhaps just aiming to get folks an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education?

Dr. Krzanowski: I believed it was important because it’s the national standard. A CDA is recognized not just in Delaware, but nationally. And I believe that the aspect of the CDA was important for our students, our scholars. They need to understand that this is not just a statewide certificate, this is a national credential. If they don’t pursue a degree, that’s okay. But if they do, going through our CDA program is going to give them the skills, the abilities, and the confidence to be successful.

Lauren: What do you think is the benefit of renewing the CDA, even if you’ve earned your bachelor’s or associate degree?

Dr. Krzanowski: Having your CDA shows a commitment to the field. Once you earn this credential, why would you give it up? You want to keep it current. Renewing your CDA is a commitment to the field and a commitment to excellence in early childhood education.

Lauren: The Council is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the CDA. How do you believe the CDA has benefited the ECE field over the last 50 years?

Dr. Krzanowski: The CDA uplifts ECE professionals. When someone says I am a CDA, they have a little pep in their step. They are proud to have earned a credential that is focused on teaching young children. When I looked around at the EELC conference and saw all the people gathered, it made me so happy to see like-minded professionals all focused on what’s best for children. At the end of the day, that must be our focus. We have a focus on children, a focus on the professionals who are educating the children, and the benefit is that it’s committed to this field.

Oakland Post

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Remembering George Floyd

Published

5 days ago

May 25, 2025

Oakland Post

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OP-ED: Oregon Bill Threatens the Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Community Journalism

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Published

7 days ago

May 23, 2025

Oakland Post

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

For decades, The Skanner newspaper in Portland, the Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium have served Portland, Oregon’s Black community and others with a vital purpose: to inform, uplift and empower. But legislation now moving through the Oregon Legislature threatens these community news institutions—and others like them.

As President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which represents more than 255 Black-owned media outlets across the United States—including historic publications like The Skanner, Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium—l believe that some Oregon lawmakers would do more harm than good for local journalism and community-owned publications they are hoping to protect.

Oregon Senate Bill 686 would require large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to pay for linking to news content. The goal is to bring desperately needed support to local newsrooms. However, the approach, while well-intentioned, puts smaller, community-based publications at a future severe financial risk.

We need to ask – will these payments paid by tech companies benefit the journalists and outlets that need them most? Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors, and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption, and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Legislation that sends money to these national conglomerate owners—without the right safeguards to protect independent and community-based outlets—rewards the forces that caused this inequitable crisis in the first place. A just and inclusive policy must guarantee that support flows to the front lines of local journalism and not to the boardrooms of large national media corporations.

The Black Press exists to fill in the gaps left by larger newsrooms. Our reporters are trusted messengers. Our outlets serve as forums for civic engagement, accountability and cultural pride. We also increasingly rely on our digital platforms to reach our audiences, especially younger generations—where they are.

We are fervently asking Oregon lawmakers to take a step back and engage in meaningful dialogue with those most affected: community publishers, small and independent outlets and the readers we serve. The Skanner, The Portland Observer, and The Portland Medium do not have national corporate parents or large investors. And they, like many smaller, community-trusted outlets, rely on traffic from search engines and social media to boost advertising revenue, drive subscriptions, and raise awareness.

Let’s work together to build a better future for Black-owned newspapers and community journalism that is fair, local,l and representative of all Oregonians.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President & CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

Oakland Post

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Hate and Chaos Rise in Trump’s America

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Tactics ranged from local policy manipulation to threats of violence. The SPLC documented bomb threats at 60 polling places in Georgia, traced to Russian email domains.

Published

7 days ago

May 23, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified 1,371 hate and antigovernment extremist groups operating across the United States in 2024. In its latest Year in Hate & Extremism report, the SPLC reveals how these groups are embedding themselves in politics and policymaking while targeting marginalized communities through intimidation, disinformation, and violence. “Extremists at all levels of government are using cruelty, chaos, and constant attacks on communities and our democracy to make us feel powerless,” said SPLC President Margaret Huang. The report outlines how hard-right groups aggressively targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives throughout 2024. Figures on the far right falsely framed DEI as a threat to white Americans, with some branding it a form of “white genocide.” After the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, a former Utah legislator blamed the incident on DEI, posting “DEI = DIE.”

Tactics ranged from local policy manipulation to threats of violence. The SPLC documented bomb threats at 60 polling places in Georgia, traced to Russian email domains. Similar threats hit Jewish institutions and Planet Fitness locations after far-right social media accounts attacked them for trans-inclusive policies. Telegram, which SPLC describes as a hub for hate groups, helped extremists cross-recruit between neo-Nazi, QAnon, and white nationalist spaces. The platform’s lax moderation allowed groups like the Terrorgram Collective—designated terrorists by the U.S. State Department—to thrive. Militia movements were also reorganized, with 50 groups documented in 2024. Many, calling themselves “minutemen,” trained in paramilitary tactics while lobbying local governments for official recognition. These groups shared personnel and ideology with white nationalist organizations.

The manosphere continued to radicalize boys and young men. The Fresh & Fit podcast, now listed as a hate group, promoted misogyny while mocking and attacking Black women. Manosphere influencers used social media algorithms to drive youth toward male-supremacy content. Turning Point USA played a key role in pushing white nationalist rhetoric into mainstream politics. Its leader Charlie Kirk claimed native-born Americans are being replaced by immigrants, while the group advised on Project 2025 and organized Trump campaign events. “We know that these groups build their power by threatening violence, capturing political parties and government, and infesting the mainstream discourse with conspiracy theories,” said Rachel Carroll Rivas, interim director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project. “By exposing the players, tactics, and code words of the hard right, we hope to dismantle their mythology and inspire people to fight back.”

Click here for the full report or visit http://www.splcenter.org/resources/guides/year-hate-extremism-2024.