Letter from the Executive Director - October 1, 2011

CT Charts-A-Course and Accreditation Facilitation Celebrate 20 Years of Supporting Professional Development and Program Improvement

It seems like just yesterday that CT Charts-A-Course (CCAC) was launched. After 20 years, it is one the longest standing systems in the country and still serves as a model for other states seeking to develop comprehensive professional development programs. The Accreditation Facilitation Projects (AFP), with its roots at the Hartford Area Child Care Collaborative has, under the leadership of Deb Flis, brought Connecticut to third in the country for the most NAEYC Accredited programs, surpassed only by California and Massachusetts.

These accomplishments have been made possible by a steadfast commitment and continued funding by the Department of Social Services, as well the CT Community College system, which has given both projects a home for the past 15 years. Linking CCAC and AFP in 1997 was a result of the state’s landmark School Readiness Legislation and at the time was a progressive idea. Since then, there has been strong research to support the connections between professional development, program accreditation and teacher retention. In speeches that I am asked to give nationally about CT Charts-A-Course, I tell people CCAC actually stands for: Commitment, Coordinated, Accountable and Change. I believe that these have been the four key factors that have allowed CCAC components such as: Career ladder, Scholarship Assistance Program, Training Approval Board and Core Area of Knowledge, Training Programs In Child Development (TPCD), Career Counseling, Registry and AFP to persist and grow over the past 20 years.

The TPCD alone has had 8,500 participants over the past 14 years. The Registry, which began in 2007 now boasts 10,000 enrollees that represent 100% of publically funded and 50% of the private CT early childhood workforce. Special initiatives have taken place and been funded through federal grants, other state agencies and private foundations. AFP has survived NAEYC Re-invention and the changes to the system. With the help of its five regional partners and private foundation funding, it continues to implement consultation services to help programs achieve accreditation.

A special thank you goes out to all our friends and supporters and we hope that our continued joint efforts will help achieve access to high quality programs for all for Connecticut’s young children.

Sincerely,

Darlene C. Ragozzine
Executive Director