Career Lattice FAQs

  1. What is a career lattice?
    The term “career lattice” refers to a framework that outlines multiple pathways for professional growth and development. It allows the early childhood education and school age care practitioner to move vertically, horizontally, or diagonally across the Early Learning system in order to advance their careers. It also provides information regarding the minimum requirements of some positions within the system so practitioners can plan their education in relation to the position that they are seeking.
     
  2. How is the Pennsylvania Keys to Quality Early Learning Career Lattice organized?
    It has eight levels and includes a continuum of professional development from entry level training through credit-bearing coursework and degree attainment. For information on how to read the Career Lattice, please see the “Description of Positions and Roles within the Levels” section of this document.
     
  3. What is the purpose of the Pennsylvania Keys to Quality Early Learning Career Lattice?
    The goal of this lattice is to ensure that children in Pennsylvania are being educated by professionals who have achieved adequate levels of education that are consistent across the State. Also, the lattice serves as a guide for those who are interested in related positions within the field by indicating the typical requirements for those positions.
     
  4. Who validates a practitioner’s place on the Career Lattice?
    Because the lattice is intended as a guide for practitioners, there is no specific validating body. However, individual programs may have specific methods within their system of professional development for determining placement on the lattice.
     
  5. Why is the study of Early Childhood Education (ECE) specific content important for early childhood educators?
    The research regarding outcomes for children when practitioners have training in Early Childhood content is compelling. Working with young children is a profession that requires knowledge of how children grow and develop as well as the skills to communicate effectively with children and parents. Research compiled within the last fifteen years underscores two essential findings:
    • High quality early learning and school age programs are important to child outcomes, and
    • Practitioner education and training are key to providing good early childhood and school age care experiences.
       
  6. Why are ECE Credits included in the lattice level requirements?
    Many practitioners within early childhood education and school age care may have degrees in “related fields.” While it is important to keep these practitioners in the field, the lattice helps to reinforce the value of ECE specific content to child outcomes by requiring varying numbers of ECE credits to meet lattice levels.
     
  7. How do I know if the courses I have taken are considered ECE Credits?
    Please refer to the “TIP SHEET FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ECE CREDITS” for guidance.
     
  8. At levels I and II, are there specific limitations on how recent the training must be or who is authorized to deliver trainings?
    There are no specific limitations written into the lattice. Any limitations regarding training will be regulated by individual programs for specific positions. When used as a guide by a practitioner, the decision must be made by the individual.
     
  9. How does the career lattice relate to Keystone STARS?
    Keystone STARS is an initiative of the Department of Public Welfare Office of Child Development. The Keystone STARS program provides resources to assist in improving quality, recognizes quality early learning programs, establishes standards for performance, provides financial incentives to programs, and designates from one to four stars to programs that meet the standards. The Pennsylvania Keys to Quality Early Learning Career Lattice is an integral part of Keystone STARS Performance Standards. To meet professional development standards for both directors and staff, practitioners must meet specific lattice levels beginning July 1, 2008.

    Note: Keystone STARS Education and Retention Awards will also use the guidelines for defining ECE credits as stated in the “TIP SHEET FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ECE CREDITS.”