News, Updates and Engagements: Parent Aware

Last updated on July 19, 2024

We are happy to share that two additional Knowledge and Competency Framework (KCF) Content Areas are approved to meet the training requirements for Parent Aware Ratings. Individuals can use training hours completed within the past five years according to the Parent Aware Pathway Five-Year look back date policy. As of July 1, 2024, individuals are allowed to use the following: 

• KCF IX Trauma Informed Care and Practice in lieu of or in addition to KCF IIC Social and Emotional Development and,
• KCF X Working with Multilingual Children and Families in lieu of or in addition to KCF III Relationships with Families.

This change in policy is in response to recommendations made in the Parent Aware Racial Equity Action Plan. It is a step towards providing more flexible and relevant training options for educators working with children and families from diverse communities. Professional Development Advisors (PDAs) may have completed training reviews before this announcement. It is an option, but not a required action to revisit a completed training review with your PDA. Programs and individuals should connect with their PDA with questions and to discuss changes to their training plan for the July 2024 Full-Rating Cohort, Accelerated, or Expedited Pathway Rating if they want to evaluate adding existing hours from the new areas to their training plan. 

Prior to May 2025, NAEYC only offered one tier of accreditation. NAEYC now offers three tiers: recognition, accreditation, and accreditation plus. Moving forward, NAEYC-accredited programs will need to choose which accreditation tier they wish to pursue.

Effective July 1, 2025, programs that choose the accreditation and the accreditation plus NAEYC tiers will be eligible to use the Parent Aware Accelerated Rating Pathway. In addition, these tiers will also count for the Child Care Assistance Program’s 15 percent higher tier of reimbursement for higher quality programs. This change provides flexibility in the definition of being “accredited,” to account for new options for validating accreditation.