Background:

The Career Pathways Level (CPL) provides licensing and Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) star rated programs an alternative pathway to meet the education requirements for a child care staff member or administrator. The CPL uses an approved framework to document formal education, experience, training, mentoring and current credentials to achieve one of six professional designations. Along with a stakeholder review, the CPL was updated and posted to clearance April 3, 2017 through April 14, 2017 and July 11, 2017 through July 24, 2017. Based on stakeholder and Clearance feedback, the CPL has further been updated and clarified.

Post Clearance Updates:

The following updates have been completed per Clearance and stakeholder comment:

Ohio Approved Instructors: The Professional Development Workgroup, which includes the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, have focused their efforts to streamline the requirements to become an Ohio Approved Instructor. The proposed changes have removed the CPL from the Ohio Approved Instructor Requirements as well as provided an associates degree as an option to become an Ohio Approved Instructor at a level one. These changes are effective October 1, 2017.

Family Child Care SUTQ Points:  The new points for the CPL currently do not match the point values reflected in the SUTQ standards in rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code for family child care (FCC) owner and lead teacher education levels.  Until the rule is amended, the standard will be assessed using only the level listed within rule, disregarding the minimum points.  For example, the 3-Star requirement for all FCC program owners is a CPL 2 with a minimum of 125 points.  This will now be assessed requiring only a CPL 2. These changes will be effective July 1, 2018.

CPL Calculation: CPL points are maintained and calculated ongoing within the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) and verified by the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Agency Association. For example, if an individual has an expired CDA and the CDA is not renewed or submitted to the OPR by the expiration, the points awarded for a current CDA credential are no longer included in the total point value for the professional.

Credential and Certificates: Current credentials and certificates have been updated as submitted to include: Physical Therapist, Ohio School Counselor, Early Intervention Specialist Birth to Three, and Developmental Specialist. Early Intervention Program Assistant was removed as well as the School Age annotation.

Transition Plan:

The implementation of the updated CPL will occur July 1, 2018 for all early childhood education professionals. Early childhood professionals will have from October 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 to gain an understanding of the updated CPL and prepare for the appropriate pathway.  The final Career Pathways Level Model and the Ohio Approved Instructors document are available at www.earlychildhoodohio.org.