Why an Illinois Director Credential?

The Director is the driving force impacting the quality of an early care and education program. The Director hires and trains staff, selects and guides the implementation of the curriculum, assures sound fiscal management, establishes the environment, and sets the tone for staff interactions, family involvement and community relations. As leader, the Director has the most influence on the success of the program, thereby enhancing the lives of children and their families.

The Vision....

The Illinois Director Credential will be recognized as the standard by which to measure the management and leadership capabilities of early care and education program directors, and will serve as a symbol of individual professional achievement.

Purpose of the Credential......

The purpose of the Illinois Director Credential is to validate the achievement of competencies necessary for effective leadership and management of center-based early care and education programs.

Rend Lake College Director Credential

Directors will receive a strong foundation in the fundamentals of child development, early childhood education, school-age programming, and infant/toddler programming in order to guide the instructional practices of teachers and support staff. The following list delineates the core skills provided:

• Historical and Philosophical Foundations
• Child Growth and Development
• Child Observation and Assessment
• Curriculum and Instructional Methods
• Children with Special Needs
• Family and Community Relationships
• Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• Individual and Group Guidance
• Learning Environments
• Professionalism

The core competencies needed for effective early childhood/school age program administration fall into the following ten categories and are met within the Rend Lake College Early Childhood Education Director Curriculum:

• Personal and Professional Self-Awareness
• Legal and Fiscal Management
• Staff Management and Human Relations
• Educational Programming
• Program Operations and Facilities Management
• Family Support
• Marketing and Public Relations
• Leadership and Advocacy
• Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Technology

Rend Lake College Director Credential Route:

• Take classes toward the Rend Lake College Associate of Applied Science Degree-Early Childhood Education
• Fill out application for the RLC Director Credential
• After completing at least twenty-one hours in the Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science Degree, students may take the Director Credential Courses (ECE 2210 & ECE 2211)
• Provide management experience documentation (1200 hours of early childhood management experience) or take the Director Practicum ECE 2212
• Provide professional contributions documentation for approval. Examples submitted must be within the past three years. Students are required to make two contributions, one in each of two of the following areas:

-Service in a Leadership Role in a Professional Organization
-Presentations/Training
-Advocacy
-Program Improvement
-Writing and Publication
-Research/Grantwriting

• Complete all degree requirements, director credential courses, management experience and professional contributions before director credential will be awarded

ECE 2210-Leadership in Early Childhood

The emphasis in this course is on directing and leading early childhood programs. It includes strategies for organizational and financial management. An overview of effective leadership, professionalism, and advocacy are outlined within the course.

ECE 2211-Management in Early Childhood

The emphasis in this course is on directing and leading early childhood programs. It includes strategies for personnel management and program development. An overview of community outreach and marketing principles are included.

ECE 2212-Director Practicum

This course provides an opportunity for the student to engage in practical experiences as a director of a center. Students work in a supervised child care setting where they assist the center director and perform the daily duties of a director.