Vision

Kansas’ early childhood CSPD will result in positive outcomes for young children and families.

Mission

In order to accomplish our vision, the Kansas ECPC Strategic Planning Team will design a cohesive personnel development system that ensures high quality early childhood programs and services leading to positive outcomes for all children and families.

This is a graphic depiction of Professional Development showing the interface of preservice, professional standards, and ongoing professional development or inservice and technical assistance. The graphic also depicts the need for leadership, coordination and sustainability for professional development to be initiate and well as the need for recruitment and retention systems.

A Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) is the primary mechanism by which states ensure that infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities and their families, are provided services by knowledgeable, skilled, competent, and highly qualified personnel, and that sufficient numbers of these personnel are available in the state to meet service needs.

Why is a CSPD important? 

  1. In order to provide timely and consistent services by prepared personnel, it is important to understand workforce capacity. 
  2. An effective system must coordinate and address state needs for both the number of personnel as well as the degree to which those personnel are supported and qualified for their roles in the service system. 
  3. Coordination between preservice (i.e. university programs) and inservice (i.e. professional development) ensures consistency of practices needed in the field.
  4. Opportunities for data-driven decisions are built in to the CSPD by ongoing evaluation from multiple sources of data (i.e. stakeholder input, program graduates, etc.).

Adapted from System Framework:  Personnel/Workforce Component
Suggested citation: Early Childhood TA Center. (2014). A System Framework for Building High-Quality Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Programs. Retrieved from http://ectacenter.org/sysframe »


Quote from Stephanie Parks
Barbara Dayal, Part B 619 Coordinator

Photograph of Barbara Dayal

“A highly qualified workforce that is skilled in providing the best of inclusive services is paramount in achieving positive outcomes for our young children and their families. Kansas will be able to continue this tradition of producing skilled practitioners, administrators, and technical assistance providers, through a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.“

Sarah Walters, Part C Coordinator

Sarah Walters

"From preservice and beyond, it is essential for Kansas to provide an early childhood workforce that is prepared and qualified to meet the unique needs of young children and their families.  A strong, connected and Comprehensive System of Personnel Development is essential for ensuring a strong early intervention system."

Vera Stroup-Rentier, KSDE Assistant Director

Photograph of Vera Stroup-Rentier

"To provide meaningful supports to families, children, and the programs that serve them, we need a professional development system that is both coordinated and comprehensive. Additionally, preparing personnel with the skills and expertise they need at both the preservice and inservice level is essential."

Chelie Nelson, Part B TA Provider

Photograph of Chelie Nelson

"In Kansas, we have a shared responsibility to ensure young children and their families have access to high-quality services. As a professional development provider, I believe one of the essential components of this goal is to support early childhood professionals at both the preservice and inservice levels through a coordinated system of interdisciplinary personnel development."

David Lindeman, Part C TA Provider

Photograph of David Lindeman

“Our intent is to build a high-quality, cohesive personnel development system designed to strengthen the capacity of early childhood professionals in Kansas across disciplines, resulting in positive outcomes for young children and families.  It takes time, but here in Kansas, we have a good foundation.”   

Eva Horn, University Professor

Photograph of Eva Horn

Stephanie Parks, University Instructor

Stephanie Parks

“As an early intervention/early childhood occupational therapist (OT) now working in Higher Education, I recognize the importance of a strong workforce serving young children and families across all disciplines on the team. An interdisciplinary comprehensive system of personnel evelopment is needed to prepare professionals across disciplines to share a common set of beliefs and utilize evidence-based practices to promote high quality services and improved outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families here in Kansas.”