The Connecticut Charts-A-Course Core Areas of Knowledge
The CT Charts-A-Course Core Areas of Knowledge defines the range of knowledge and competency skills that adults working with young children need to possess in order to facilitate child learning and development and is applicable to professionals in a variety of child care settings. The Core Areas of Knowledge has been developed and/or revised to meet the standards put forth by such organizations and agencies (but not limited to) as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the CT State Department of Education, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Core Areas of Knowledge infuses current scientifically research-based knowledge and complements the CT Guidelines for the Development of Infant and Toddler Early Learning as well as the CT Preschool Curriculum and CT Preschool Assessment Framework. All CT Charts-A-Course approved curriculum is reviewed and approved by the CT Charts-A-Course Training Approval Board (TAB).
The following list illustrates the range of knowledge and observable skills CT Charts-A-Course believes all early care and education teachers must demonstrate regardless of setting, in order to facilitate children’s learning and development.
- Demonstrate an understanding of child development and can apply this knowledge in practice.
- Observe and assess children's behavior in planning and individualizing teaching practices and curriculum.
- Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children.
- Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum that advances all areas of children's learning and development, including social, emotional, intellectual, and physical competence.
- Establish supportive relationships with children and implement developmentally appropriate techniques of guidance and group management.
- Establish and maintain positive and productive relationships with families.
- Support the development and learning of individual children, recognizing that children are best understood in the context of family, culture, and society.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the early childhood profession and make a commitment to professionalism.
Theories of child development areintertwined in the Core Areas of Knowledge. The foundational theorists of the Core Areas of Knowledge are:
- Freud
- Piaget
- Vygotsky
- Erikson
- Bowlby
- Gardner
- Brofenbrenner
CCAC approved trainers must weave in and give concrete examples of the theories of child development into their delivery of the Core Areas of Knowledge. Trainers need to be cognizant that participants should be able to demonstrate how to do the following as they progress through the Core Areas of Knowledge trainings in order to truly understand the scope of child development in practice:
- Tie theory to Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
- Tie theory to developmental domains and areas of classroom planning.
- Tie theory back to classroom activities and daily practices with young children and families.
There is a total of 258 hours of integrated training over eight competency areas in the Core Areas of Knowledge. The eight Core Areas of Knowledge are:
- Core Area A: Providing a Safe, Healthy and Purposeful Learning Environment
- Core Area B: Learning about Child Growth and Development
- Core Area C: Advancing Children’s Physical and Intellectual Development
- Core Area D: Advancing Children’s Social and Emotional Development
- Core Area E: Managing an Effective Classroom
- Core Area F: Establishing Mutually Productive Relationships with Families
- Core Area G: Assessing Children’s Learning and Development
- Core Area H: Advancing Professionalism
Each Core Area has an Overview Topic (3 hours) and additional Related Topics (90 minutes, unless otherwise noted by CCAC).
CT Charts-A-Course defined a package of 84 topics in the Core Areas of Knowledge into the Mandatory Core Areas of Knowledge that totals 157.5hours of training and delivered in the Module Sequence. The Mandatory Core Areas of Knowledge is modeled after the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. It is designed to provide accessibility, flexibility and transferability of high quality training to early childhood education teachers. It is credit-free entry-level training for individuals who do not hold college credits in Child Development or Introduction to Early Childhood Education; a college degree in any field; or a credential in child development. The Core Areas of Knowledge offers individuals a realistic and attainable foundation of training that leads them to achieve higher and higher levels of education as they climb the CT Charts-A-Course career ladder towards their own early childhood professional development goals. Individuals should take EITHER the Core Areas of Knowledge training OR college credits, but not a combination of the two. This training cannot be used to renew a CDA credential.
Trainers are required to conduct an evaluation (either verbal or written) after each training to check the level of participant acquisition of content knowledge, meaningful connections to an early childhood providers daily work tasks as well as safe, healthy, developmentally appropriate practice. However, because the Core Areas of Knowledgetraining is entry-level, no tests or exams should be given. Training participants should feel at ease in a comfortable, stress-free learning environment.
Embedded within the Core Areas of Knowledge are several strands of training. They are:
- Early Language and Literacy*
- Health and Safety
- Inclusive Child Care*
- Infant/Toddler*
- CDA
Embedded within the Core Areas of Knowledge are several specialty topics. They are:
- Preschool Assessment Framework*
- Preschool Curriculum Framework*
- CT’s Guidelines for the Development of Infant and Toddler Early Learning*
* Trainers have to meet additional requirements to deliver any of the topics in the Early Language and Literacy, Inclusive Child Care and/or Infant/Toddler strands; specialty topics or Overview topics. See the Training Approval Board Policies and Procedures for specific requirements.
Please click here for a listing of the topics in the Connecticut Charts-A-Course Core Areas of Knowledge.
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