4C for Children has been awarded the prestigious CDA Gold Standard following a quality review of training and student services by the Council for Professional Recognition. The CDA Gold StandardSM is part of the Council’s early childhood education effort to help CDA (Child Development Associate) students find the high-quality training and student services they need in preparation for the CDA exam and a career as an early childhood educator.
“We are thrilled to receive the CDA Gold Standard,” says Vanessa Freytag, president/CEO of 4C for Children. “The CDA is a vital tool for child care professionals to learn best practices and to reach the Lead Teacher level that is needed for many of the quality child care requirements.”
4C pursued the rigorous requirements for a Gold Standard certification Freytag said “to ensure that teachers in our communities receive the very best training to take back to the early childhood classrooms where they care for our youngest children.”
Earning the CDA Gold Standard is recognition that 4C for Children’s early childhood education training is based on the Council’s three industry-leading principles of:
- Alignment with the CDA formal education coursework found in the CDA’s Eight Subject Areas.
- Sound business policies and practices.
- Quality student services that meet their educational and professional needs.
In addition to offering high-quality training, CDA Gold Standard applicants must provide evidence that they serve the CDA student community with excellence, which includes professional development that prepares students for successful completion of their training program.
“It’s exciting to think about the many young children, families, and communities that will benefit from the high-quality education and training students receive from a CDA Gold StandardSM organization such as 4C for Children,” says Valora Washington, CEO of the Council.
Annually, an average of 230 child care providers from Southwest Ohio, the Miami Valley and Northern Kentucky prepare for the CDA exam through the nine-month 4C CDA Preparatory Program led by 4C for Children staff. 4C has offered the program since 1999.
“We are so pleased our CDA program has been awarded the CDA Gold Standard SM ,” says Linda Lockhart, one of 4C’s three CDA specialists. “This award assures child care providers a comprehensive, high-quality program that provides the training and support they need. We’re proud of the personalized attention we provide to all of our CDA students and look forward to offering this outstanding program to child care providers in years to come.”
Pictured Above: Members of the 4C for Children CDA Preparation Program team celebrate receiving the national CDA Gold Standard certification.