MN Professional Development Council Meeting

May 27, 2003

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Ramsey County Library

2180 North Hamline, Roseville, MN
Supporting Professionals Who Educate, Advocate, and Care for Children, Youth, & Families. 

Click here for Minutes from the March 18, 2003 Meeting

Click here for the PD Council Mission and Vision Statements 

Click here to go to Archive of past Meeting Minutes

NEW Online A.A.S. degree on-line opportunity--

E.L.E.C.T., a new credit-based training initiative hosted by a consortium of twelve Minnesota Community and Technical Colleges. Each of the colleges are

offering child development courses on-line, enabling students across Minnesota to access lower-division college courses and to complete the A.A.S. degree on-line. Attached is a list of courses that will be offered during the 2002-2003 school year. Please feel free to copy and distribute this information. Look for more information on E-LECT at the MnAEYC Fall Conference and Sharing The Vision conference in October. For more questions, please contact one of the instructors listed on the chart.

The MnAEYC Professional Development (PD) Program is a program of the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children. The PD Program is a private, collaborative, state-wide citizen initiative working to plan a coordinated accessible system for early childhood and school age professional development. More than six hundred early childhood and school age providers and administrators have participated in the planning task forces that have been part of the PD Program’s work. 

Vision of the MnAEYC Early Childhood Professional Development Program

All Minnesota children in formal and informal early childhood care and education programs will be cared for by skilled individuals trained to work with young children.

• These individuals will participate in a wide-ranging and integrated professional development system that improves skills, raises professionalism, and increases compensation.
• All practitioners will understand and practice the core competencies required at their level in the field.
• All practitioners, from novice to veteran, will understand the range of opportunities in Minnesota’s early childhood career lattice.
• The professional development system and all early childhood programs and practitioners will be culturally competent and responsive.
• A statewide system will document, approve, and recognize the professional development of all early childhood practitioners.
• MnAEYC's Professional Development Program will serve as convener, facilitator, and/or partner with early childhood professional development initiatives.

Definition: Professional Development

Professional Development refers to the lifelong learning and skill enhancement of all practitioners who care for and educate young children in Minnesota. This includes, but is not limited to, career development such as workshops and conferences, publications, research, public information, professional standards, advocacy, recognition for achievement and service, coaching, and mentoring. Professional Development includes all higher education (i.e., formal and non-formal, pre-service, in-service, and upgrade training) of those who serve young children in Minnesota.

Definition: Early Childhood/Young Children

The terms early childhood/young children include children from birth through age eight and school-age child care through age twelve.

Definition: Core Competencies  

Core competencies refer to specific skills and knowledge necessary for practitioners to provide early childhood care and education services.

Definition: Early Childhood Career Lattice

The early childhood career lattice refers to the variety of career opportunities in early childhood care and education. The lattice connotes multiple entry points with upward mobility and enhanced qualifications and improved compensation, while conveying horizontal movement across the various sectors of the diverse field.