Administrative Credentials
Administrative Credentials include the Registry Administrator Credential, Registry Leadership Credential, and Registry Program Development Credential. Each of these credentials provides practical knowledge and job specific skills to support administrators, directors, and leaders in the early care and education field.
Administrative Credential
The Registry Administrator Credential is developed to meet the needs of those who are employed or would like to be employed as administrators in child care programs, Head Start, nursery schools, school age programs, family child care, child welfare service agencies, public and private schools, and other early care and education programs. Individuals in an administrative role take this credential to enhance their existing skills, gain new knowledge and network with other administrators in the field. The courses are also designed to prepare staff in non-administrative positions take on new leadership roles and increased responsibility. Increased business expertise and related skills are a benefit to all employers.
This has been an amazing experience and has tremendously changed me as an administrator. The information is easy to understand and implement into our program.
— Credential Recipient
Credential Course Information
The Administrator Credential consists of a six-course series for a total of 18-credits:
Course One: Administration/Supervision in Early Childhood Programs: Roles and Responsibilities*
This course represents an overview of the roles and responsibilities of administrators of various early care and education programs and the groups with whom they have role relationships with an emphasis on quality.
Course Two: Operations Management in Early Childhood Programs*
This course includes an introduction to systems and operations theory and the identification of concepts, processes, systems, and policies involved in the internal management of early care and education programs. It offers opportunity to apply this knowledge to plans for the improvement of these necessary systems, and for the development of standard operating procedures as appropriate.
Course Three: Financial Management and Planning in Early Childhood Programs*
This course includes the principles and practices in budget planning, preparation and fiscal management including hands-on experience with program applications. *If you are taking one of the Administrator Credential Courses to meet Licensing regulations, we recommend that you take one of the first three courses as listed.
Course Four: Early Childhood Programs and the External Environment
This course covers the external factors and relationships that provide constraints and opportunities that affect an organization’s quality and ability to survive. It includes predicting supply and demand, marketing, licensing and other required regulation, funding, accreditation, external evaluation, collaboration with community organizations and agencies, public policy issues in early care and education, advocacy and working for public policy changes.
Course Five: Best Practices for Children and Families in Early Childhood Programs
This course covers childcare as a family friendly community; integration of child growth and development principles into all aspects of the program; establishing and maintaining quality in program; developing partnerships with families; multi-cultural and anti-bias approaches in curriculum, materials, activities, and relationships; space design and equipment.
Course Six: Capstone Course - Administrative Seminar
The strategies learned in this course build upon management skills and take students beyond management to incorporate leadership in their programs, communities, and profession. In this course students are ready to synthesize the material they have learned. Through the development of a major project, students demonstrate the integration and application of the concepts and skills acquired in the full series of courses.
Prerequisites: Courses 1 through 5 of the Administrator Credential course sequence.
Credential Profile
Symbol: Key
“The director is not one of the keys to quality: the director is the key to quality.” -Gwen Morgan
Color: Red
Red symbolizes passion, strength, energy, fire, excitement, speed, heat, ambition, leadership, power, and respect.
Number of Administrator Credential recipients since 1998.
Leadership Credential
Leaders in the early care and education field including teachers, assistant teachers, program directors, administrators and agency professionals who wish to increase or refine their leadership skills will benefit from this training. This credential explores the importance of excellence and diversity in early care and education programs, and the role of vision and reflective practice in reaching these goals. These courses are designed to enhance existing leadership skills, while gaining knowledge and creating networks with other leaders in the field.
I’m a teacher in a center and have been in the field for over 20 years. This credential was an amazing experience. It opened my eyes that I can lead, and you don’t have to be in management to lead. Leading is open to anyone that wants to.
— Credential Recipient
Credential Course Information
The Registry Leadership Credential consists of a four-course series for a total of 12-credits.
Course One: The Personal Disposition of a Leader
This course will cover definitions of leadership and leader roles, the role of vision, emotional intelligence, resilience, optimism, and reflective practice in successful leadership of early childhood programs. For credentialing, it is required that the Leadership Credential courses must be taken sequentially, however this course can be taken individually.
Course Two: Leading in Your Program
This course will cover the leadership roles, responsibilities, and skills necessary for excellence in early childhood programs. The role of leadership in staff development will be examined, including coaching and mentoring. For credentialing, it is required that the Leadership Credential courses must be taken sequentially, however this course can be taken individually.
Course Three: Leading In Your Community and the Field
This course will cover the leadership skills necessary for collaboration, interconnections, and relationships. The focus will be on addressing the gap between current and best practices, and issues related to identity, purpose, and responsibility of the field. For credentialing, it is required that the Leadership Credential courses must be taken sequentially, however this course can be taken individually.
Course Four: Capstone Course - Leading For Change
This course will cover the use of transformational leadership, theories on change, action research, and advocacy strategies. As the final course in the leadership series, students will participate in an action research project to effect change. For credentialing, it is required that the Leadership Credential courses must be taken sequentially, however this course can be taken individually.
Credential Profile
Symbol: Starfish
One person can make a great difference.
The Starfish Story adapted from Loren Eisley
One day, a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up, and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t possibly make a difference!” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one!”
Color: Purple
Purple symbolizes nobility, imagination, inspiration, good judgment, peace of mind, and purpose.
Number of Leadership Credential recipients since 2010.
Program Development Credential
Individuals responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating an early care and education program including teachers, family child care providers, program directors, assistant directors, site supervisors, individuals entering the early care and education field from a different industry, and those who have completed other credentials who wish to broaden their knowledge and expertise will benefit from this credential. The skills learned through this credential help students create a learning community of children and adults that promotes optimal child development, healthy families, and healthy relationships in supportive environments.
It has been an enlightening and rewarding learning experience. The collaborative discussions with other professionals were the best.
— Credential Recipient
Credential Course Information
The Registry Program Development Credential consists of a four-course series for a total of 12-credits.
Course One: Introduction to Program Development
The course includes the application of the Wisconsin Model Early Standards, or your state’s Early Learning Standards, to guide expectations for supervisory and teaching staff and support continuous quality improvement. The content is intended for those in positions that involve program development, implementation, and supervision, such as: directors, assistant directors, lead teachers, family childcare providers, program coordinators, site coordinators, and group leaders.
Course Two: Observation, Assessment & Evaluation
This course includes discussions and practical application of techniques and tools for observation, assessment, and evaluation of individual children, curriculum, and learning environments. Systems for planning, goal setting, and monitoring provide continuous information on the quality of the program, educators, and child outcomes. The course meets the requirements for Wisconsin Model Early Standards, or your state’s Early Learning Standards, to guide expectations for supervisory and teaching staff and support continuous quality improvement.
Course Three: Designing Environments for Learning
This course focuses on how environments are both physical and cultural and are an important part of producing excellent quality programs. They reflect the program’s philosophy and either assist or hinder children’s learning. This course uses the Wisconsin Model Early Standards, or your state’s Early Learning Standards as a framework for program quality and for both supervisory and teaching staff expectations.
Course Four: Capstone Course - Staff Supervision, Coaching & Professional Development
This course focuses on how the quality of a program for children is dependent on the knowledge skills and dispositions of the staff working directly with children. Staff are supported by individualized, ongoing professional development programs and effective coaching and supervision. This course provides program supervisory and lead personnel with the tools to develop cultural responsiveness and supportive learning environments through staff development, coaching, supervision, and community building. This course uses Early Learning Standards as a framework for program development.
Prerequisites: Courses 1 through 3 of the Program Development Credential course sequence.
Credential Profile
Symbol: Building Blocks
Building blocks represent the importance of constructing a sound program foundation that supports a successful learning community.
Color: Orange
Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It represents enthusiasm, creativity, determination, success, encouragement, and stimulation and is symbolic of strength and endurance.
Number of Program Development Credential recipients since 2014.