1
Glossary of Terms
Commonly Used Terms & Definitions
CDA PD SPECIALIST™ IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
CDA PD Specialists™ who successfully complete the CDA PD Specialist
training receive an official Identification Number (ID #) from the Council. The
CDA PD Specialist provides their unique ID# to the candidate only when they
have agreed to conduct the CDA Verification Visit®. The candidate must enter
the CDA PD Specialist’s ID# on the CDA® application. Note: The CDA PD
Specialist ID number is required for the candidate to complete and submit the
CDA application.
CDA VERIFICATION VISIT®
A requirement of the CDA® credentialing process that is conducted by the
CDA PD Specialist™—During the visit, the CDA PD Specialist will:
• Review the contents of the candidate’s Professional Portfolio, training
transcripts/ certificates, and Family Questionnaires
• Observe the candidate working with children
• Reflect with the candidate, focusing on their areas of strength or those
in need of growth, as shown in the portfolio or seen during the
observation
CDA VIRTUAL VERIFICATION VISIT™ ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation Goal: To increase accessibility and provide an alternative
option to CDA candidates attempting to complete the credentialing process.
COMPREHENSIVE SCORING INSTRUMENT (CSI)
The official scoring form used by the CDA PD Specialist™ to ascertain and
record the recommended scores of the candidate in the 13 Functional Areas
using the candidate’s Professional Portfolio and a direct observation of them
working with children.The scores from the candidate’s CDA Verification Visit®
are recorded on the Comprehensive Scoring Instrument located online
in YourCouncil. The online form is used exclusively by CDA PD Specialists to
view candidates who are ready to schedule, verify candidate setting types and
submit scores from the verification visit to the Council.
2
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
You may NOT serve as a candidate’s CDA PD Specialist™ if:
1. You are the candidate’s:
•
Relative (related by blood, marriage, or other legal
relationships)
•
Direct supervisor, teacher/trainer, director, center employee
(including for example, a co-worker in the same group,
classroom, or center site) in the past three years.
2. The candidate is the employer.
3. You have a child in the candidate’s class or group.
4. You have served as the candidate’s CDA PD Specialist™:
•
For another CDA® credential.
•
In the past and the candidate is reapplying for the same
credential.
5. You or your organization has a financial and/or contractual
interest related to the candidate or may benefit in any way from
the candidate’s credentialing decision.
6. Any person who may have a personal or professional bias toward
or against the candidate, or any group of which the candidate is
a part (such as peer, friend or foe).
7. A licensing agent who has conducted a review, inspection or other
service within the past two years for the child care facility.
PRE-VERIFICATION VISIT CHECKLIST
A document used to assist CDA PD Specialists™ in properly preparing for the
CDA Verification Visit®, including verifying the candidate’s name, setting type,
language and location. (Note: Review the checklist on page 42 of this
manual.)
PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO
The collection of documentation of the candidate’s ability to meet all CDA®
eligibility requirements—The portfolio also compiles the candidate’s reflections
on how their practice meets the CDA® Competency Standards. The portfolio
consists of:
• Divider/cover sheets (3)
• Official training documentation of the candidate’s professional
education
• Family Questionnaires
3
• Reflective Statements of Competence (6)
• The Resource Collection (23)
• The Professional Philosophy Statement
• Parent Observation Permission Form (Home Visitor CDA® candidates
only)
• CDA® Assessor Recommendation Form (Home Visitor CDA®
candidates only)
R.O.R. MODEL®
“R.O.R.” stands for Review-Observe-Reflect®, the model used to structure the
tasks undertaken by the CDA PD Specialist™ during the CDA Verification
Visit® that contribute to the assessment of candidates’ competency. The CDA
PD Specialist will review the candidate’s Professional Portfolio, observe the
candidate working with children or families and reflect with the candidate on
their professional strengths and opportunities for growth.
READY TO SCHEDULE NOTICE
The email or paper notice candidates receive from the Council after their
CDA® application and assessment fee have been successfully processed.
Once the Ready to Schedule notice has been received, the candidate will
appear in the online Comprehensive Scoring Instrument and the CDA PD
Specialist™ is then authorized to schedule and conduct the CDA Verification
Visit®.
REFLECTIVE DIALOGUE
The conversation between the candidate and CDA PD Specialist™ that takes
place at the conclusion of the CDA Verification Visit®—In it, the candidate
reflects on their areas of strength and those in need of professional growth.
The reflective dialogue is not scored and therefore has no bearing on the
award of the CDA® credential.
Glossary of Terms
Commonly Used Terms & Definitions
CDA PD SPECIALIST™ IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
CDA PD Specialists™ who successfully complete the CDA PD Specialist
training receive an official Identification Number (ID #) from the Council. The
CDA PD Specialist provides their unique ID# to the candidate only when they
have agreed to conduct the CDA Verification Visit®. The candidate must enter
the CDA PD Specialist’s ID# on the CDA® application. Note: The CDA PD
Specialist ID number is required for the candidate to complete and submit the
CDA application.
CDA VERIFICATION VISIT®
A requirement of the CDA® credentialing process that is conducted by the
CDA PD Specialist™—During the visit, the CDA PD Specialist will:
• Review the contents of the candidate’s Professional Portfolio, training
transcripts/ certificates, and Family Questionnaires
• Observe the candidate working with children
• Reflect with the candidate, focusing on their areas of strength or those
in need of growth, as shown in the portfolio or seen during the
observation
CDA VIRTUAL VERIFICATION VISIT™ ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation Goal: To increase accessibility and provide an alternative
option to CDA candidates attempting to complete the credentialing process.
COMPREHENSIVE SCORING INSTRUMENT (CSI)
The official scoring form used by the CDA PD Specialist™ to ascertain and
record the recommended scores of the candidate in the 13 Functional Areas
using the candidate’s Professional Portfolio and a direct observation of them
working with children.The scores from the candidate’s CDA Verification Visit®
are recorded on the Comprehensive Scoring Instrument located online
in YourCouncil. The online form is used exclusively by CDA PD Specialists to
view candidates who are ready to schedule, verify candidate setting types and
submit scores from the verification visit to the Council.
2
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
You may NOT serve as a candidate’s CDA PD Specialist™ if:
1. You are the candidate’s:
•
Relative (related by blood, marriage, or other legal
relationships)
•
Direct supervisor, teacher/trainer, director, center employee
(including for example, a co-worker in the same group,
classroom, or center site) in the past three years.
2. The candidate is the employer.
3. You have a child in the candidate’s class or group.
4. You have served as the candidate’s CDA PD Specialist™:
•
For another CDA® credential.
•
In the past and the candidate is reapplying for the same
credential.
5. You or your organization has a financial and/or contractual
interest related to the candidate or may benefit in any way from
the candidate’s credentialing decision.
6. Any person who may have a personal or professional bias toward
or against the candidate, or any group of which the candidate is
a part (such as peer, friend or foe).
7. A licensing agent who has conducted a review, inspection or other
service within the past two years for the child care facility.
PRE-VERIFICATION VISIT CHECKLIST
A document used to assist CDA PD Specialists™ in properly preparing for the
CDA Verification Visit®, including verifying the candidate’s name, setting type,
language and location. (Note: Review the checklist on page 42 of this
manual.)
PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO
The collection of documentation of the candidate’s ability to meet all CDA®
eligibility requirements—The portfolio also compiles the candidate’s reflections
on how their practice meets the CDA® Competency Standards. The portfolio
consists of:
• Divider/cover sheets (3)
• Official training documentation of the candidate’s professional
education
• Family Questionnaires
3
• Reflective Statements of Competence (6)
• The Resource Collection (23)
• The Professional Philosophy Statement
• Parent Observation Permission Form (Home Visitor CDA® candidates
only)
• CDA® Assessor Recommendation Form (Home Visitor CDA®
candidates only)
R.O.R. MODEL®
“R.O.R.” stands for Review-Observe-Reflect®, the model used to structure the
tasks undertaken by the CDA PD Specialist™ during the CDA Verification
Visit® that contribute to the assessment of candidates’ competency. The CDA
PD Specialist will review the candidate’s Professional Portfolio, observe the
candidate working with children or families and reflect with the candidate on
their professional strengths and opportunities for growth.
READY TO SCHEDULE NOTICE
The email or paper notice candidates receive from the Council after their
CDA® application and assessment fee have been successfully processed.
Once the Ready to Schedule notice has been received, the candidate will
appear in the online Comprehensive Scoring Instrument and the CDA PD
Specialist™ is then authorized to schedule and conduct the CDA Verification
Visit®.
REFLECTIVE DIALOGUE
The conversation between the candidate and CDA PD Specialist™ that takes
place at the conclusion of the CDA Verification Visit®—In it, the candidate
reflects on their areas of strength and those in need of professional growth.
The reflective dialogue is not scored and therefore has no bearing on the
award of the CDA® credential.