Cornerstones Update – July 2022
CDA stands for Child Development Associate Credential, which is the most highly recognized credential in the field of Early Childhood education. Cornerstones, The Center’s CDA, BESE-approved, Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate program, wrapped up instruction for Cohort 7.0 at the end of June 2022. The 29 candidates who completed the program in its entirety participated in online course content, weekly webinars, and one-on-one coaching sessions, and are now ready to obtain their CDA certification through the Council for Professional Recognition. Once passing their CDA exam and completing the Verification Visit with a PD Specialist from the CDA Council, candidates will then go to earn their Ancillary Certification through the Louisiana Department of Education.
We follow our candidates from start to finish throughout their CDA and Ancillary journey, and we are thrilled to report that many of our candidates from Cohort 6.0 have completed all of the post instruction steps, and are now proud holders of a CDA, as well as Ancillary Certificates. When asked how their coursework through the Cornerstones program prepared them for the national CDA exam and impacted their classroom teaching, one participant said, “I appreciated that the instructors stayed with me through the entire process. There was always someone available to answer a question or guide me to the next step. The coursework helped me to understand some of the things that my Director had us doing and I passed the CDA exam on my first try.” Another participant stated, “It prepared me to want to be a better teacher. It also allowed me to see my weaknesses and strengths. I was proud to be a part of the CDA program because it enlightened me a whole lot in how I engage with children and their surroundings. The program is very informative and it prepares you for what’s to come.”
Currently, our Early Childhood Team is working on revamping Cornerstones before the beginning of Cohort 8.0 – reducing coursework from an eight-month program to a five-month program, while remaining compliant with the parameters set forth by the CDA Council and LDOE. Applications for Cohort 8.0 will be available in early August 2022, so stay tuned for updates from our Early Childhood department on this exciting opportunity.