Through this collaboration students in grades 10-12 who are engaged in early childhood-focused academic coursework would have the opportunity to earn a CDA and/or RBT credential during or immediately following their studies in the JCPS Early Childhood Academy program. The CDA credential is the minimum requirement for Early Head Start lead teachers and Head Start assistant teachers.

In addition to helping create career pathways for JCPS students, the program is designed to address the local shortage of childcare and early childhood education professionals, to reach more children, and ultimately deliver on Mayor Craig Greenberg’s five-year plan to create a pathway to universal pre-K for every 3- and 4-year-old in Louisville.

“The collaboration between the PNC Foundation and the University of Louisville is truly transformative for our community. With PNC’s support, UofL will develop innovative workforce programs that strengthen the early childhood education sector,” said Greenberg. “This aligns perfectly with my administration’s ‘Thrive by 5’ initiative, a five-year plan to create a pathway to universal pre-k by ensuring that every 3- and 4-year-old in Louisville has access to quality early learning. The impact of this work on our children, economy and future will be extraordinary.”

The program’s impact could be substantial, with up to 100 participants per year potentially working toward completion. The practical experience placements would be in high-needs environments, including commercial centers, nonprofit centers, school districts, Head Start programs and private programs serving economically disadvantaged populations or children with specific disabilities.

“As a longtime champion for high-quality early childhood education, PNC is committed to improving access to resources and programming for our community’s youngest learners,” said Kristen Byrd, PNC regional president for Kentucky. “Developing future educators who can help prepare children for success in school and life is central to this work, and all of us at PNC look forward to the impact this program will create for educators and students in Jefferson County.”

The ECRC was established by the UofL College of łÉÈËֱȄ and Human Development in 1999 to conduct and disseminate research on early childhood development and education. Jon Lee, recently appointed director of the ECRC, will lead this innovative project.

“The effort between the PNC Foundation and the University of Louisville is a crucial step forward in supporting early childhood education in our community,” said Brandy Scott, Instructional Lead in Career Pathways at Jefferson County Public Schools. “At JCPS’ Early Childhood Academies, we are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive and get a jump start on their postsecondary education or career. We expect the support from PNC to allow us to expand our efforts in preparing our youngest learners for long-term success, while also strengthening the early education workforce. This initiative will have a lasting impact on children, families and the future of education in Louisville.”

“We are grateful for the PNC Foundation’s support in this critical initiative,” said Lee. “Their commitment to early childhood education and economic development aligns perfectly with our mission to foster high-quality educational environments for young children and support the development of future educators.”

For more information about the ECRC and its initiatives, .

“Dianna was always so kind and understanding. She went the extra mile to help me and ensure I was going to be able to complete my work and obtain my certification,” Warren said. “I had to overcome a lot of adversity at that point in my life and I honestly believe if I’d had a different instructor, I wouldn’t have been able to complete the course.”

Earning a CDA certification is required of all teachers who work in federal grant programs like Early Head Start for children from birth to age three, and Head Start for 3-and-4-year-olds. These programs provide full-day services for struggling and homeless families.

The Ohio Valley łÉÈËֱȄ Cooperative pays for teaching assistants working in their Louisville and surrounding county Head Start classrooms to earn a CDA degree through a program at UofL’s College of łÉÈËֱȄ & Human Development. This is the fifth year for the partnership between OVEC and UofL.

“Many of those who attend our classes have had huge challenges in their lives and still do. This is the first rung on the ladder to success in the field of early childhood,” Zink said.

Originally, all courses were in-person only, but in 2020 online classes taught by Erika Nygard were added to the CDA course offerings. The curriculum is focused on several key areas: Safe and Healthy Learning Environment; Physical & Intellectual Development; Social Emotional Development; Working with Families; Effective Program Management; Professionalism; and Principles of Child Development. 

In addition to obtaining a minimum of 10 hours in each area of study, students are required to put together a portfolio, send out parent questionnaires, undergo classroom observation and prepare for a national written exam. A CDA Council then decides if a student has qualified to receive the CDA certification.

Zink says she has helped more than 200 students through the certification process.

“I may have a student that begins with me one year only to stop because of life challenges, but then continues the following year or when they are able to do so. The beauty of our program is that students can pick up where they left off,” she said.

That was the case for Warren who went on maternity leave after completing the class work. This pushed back her classroom observation date. Then COVID-19 caused even more delay when her center had to close. She then gave birth to her second child. This year, Warren completed her CDA credential. She is now assistant director at Developing Young Minds and is continuing to further her education.

“My entire approach to facilitate learning with children has changed because of the information I learned in my coursework,” Warren said. “Dianna really helped to ignite the passion in myself that has driven me to be the best early childhood educator I can possibly be.”

Accreditation by the NAEYC is awarded to early childhood education programs that demonstrate excellence in teaching, relationship-building, curriculum, health, safety and other areas. 

Located on Belknap Campus, ELC is for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age and provides child development services for UofL faculty, staff and students, as well as residents of the nearby Family Scholar House and the Old Louisville neighborhood. Every weekday, the little ones come through the doors and are transformed into Turtles, Rainbow Fish, Sweet Peas, Travelers, Jazzy Jungles or Tadpoles. Their days are filled with friends and toys, games and healthy snacks, naps and outside playtime. 

“Early childhood education and experiences have tremendous impact on children’s future academic success, with studies showing effects well into high school,” said Jill Jacobi-Vessels, director of ELC. “The ELC engaged in the rigorous NAEYC accreditation process because we strongly believe that our profession is critical to the well-being of families and communities. We want to ensure that we offer our children the highest possible quality.”

Jacobi-Vessels noted that ELC hosts frequent visits for area centers and schools looking for ways to enhance their own programs. ELC also serves as a classroom for UofL early childhood education students.

“NAEYC’s accreditation criteria formed a useful framework for reflecting on our program’s strengths and areas for growth,” she said. “Our team successfully engaged in a yearlong self-study to review our policies and practices and compile deep evidence to document how we meet the NAEYC standards. We are thrilled that we achieved re-accreditation with exceptionally high scores and are grateful for UofL’s ongoing commitment to the ELC and our littlest Cardinals.”

ELC celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. It uses the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, focusing on child-led, play-based learning.