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Smart Horizons Announces Collaboration with Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services
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June 3, 2008: Smart Horizons, a division of Advanced Systems Technology, and Nova Southeastern University's Fischler School of Education and Human Services in North Miami Beach, FL, announce a joint program to promote and provide to child care professionals the opportunity to attend the Fischler School to further develop their careers through online and on-site academic programs. |
Child care professionals who complete the Smart Horizons training program and earn their CDA National Credential or the Florida Child Care Professional Certificate (FCCPC) can be awarded college level credit through NSU’s Fischler School. The Fischler School currently transfers in the CDA National Credential and the FCCPC for nine (9) credits toward the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a concentration in Child Development. The school also offers an additional three credits to professionals who complete the Director’s Credential. Coursework completed through Smart Horizons toward the CDA renewal will be considered to be transferred to a maximum of three credits.
Smart Horizons has worked with qualified child care professionals to develop some of the best and most comprehensive online early childhood training programs. The program is innovative, realistic, and delivered through interactive multimedia programs provided by Advanced Systems Technology, Inc. Smart Horizons is recognized nationally for providing the comprehensive early childhood training courseware to over 575 child care centers throughout the country. For more information about Smart Horizons, visit www.smarthorizons.org.
Nova Southeastern University is the 6th largest independent, not-for-profit university in the U.S. NSU’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services is one of the largest schools of education in the country, serving nearly 15,000 students annually. The school is widely recognized as a pioneer and leader in using distance technology to provide cutting-edge curriculum to educators worldwide. Contact Marsha Lowe, Strategic Initiatives Special Project Manager, Fischler School of Education and Human Services, for more information at marslowe@nova.edu or 1-800-986-3223 ext. 28345. |
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NACCRRA and Smart Horizons Partner to Provide Online Learning Opportunities to Child Care Professionals
Arlington, VA - The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) announces a partnership with Smart Horizons, a division of Advanced Systems Technology, Inc., a company that specializes in the development of computer-based instruction and training. The partnership will enable NACCRRA to provide more than 800 Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) located throughout the United States with the technology to facilitate a variety of e-Learning opportunities for child care professionals. These e-Learning opportunities, which will include a 120-hour Child Development Associate (CDA) training, a pre-service training series, and other state licensing requirements and CDA credential renewal requirements, will provide child care professionals with professional development opportunities that research suggests will lead to higher quality child care.
According to the research, the amount of formal education attained by a child care provider is the strongest predictor for the provider's ability to engage children in developmentally appropriate activities and positive interactions that better prepare them for school. Additionally, providers with specialized training are more likely to be nurturing, reinforce early literacy skills, and challenge and enhance children's learning.
“NACCRRA is pleased to partner with Smart Horizons and make available to CCR&Rs the technology that will enable them to provide vital training to child care professionals throughout the country,” said Linda Smith, Executive Director of NACCRRA. “Through this technology, our members can serve as the means to providing the vital training to child care professionals that will ultimately improve the quality of child care in this country.”
The technology will enable CCR&Rs to offer ongoing training opportunities via the Internet. CCR&Rs will be able to host online meetings and training sessions, self-paced trainings, live, instructor-led trainings, and ongoing programs that blend self-paced trainings with online meetings.
“The technology is very easy to use and will allow CCR&Rs to effectively, efficiently, and affordably train more child care professionals in less time at a reduced cost,” said Smith.
CCR&Rs are located in every state and most communities across the nation. Together, they serve parents and providers in over 99 percent of all populated zip codes. They work with their communities to identify child care needs and create solutions by recruiting and training more than 500,000 child care providers and creating 450,000 new child care spaces annually.
For more information about the technology and partnership between NACCRRA and Smart Horizons, please visit www.naccrra.org.
About AST
Advanced Systems Technology, Inc.® (AST) is a systems and software engineering firm that specializes in information technology, and in the development of computer-based instruction and training. Founded in 1984, AST has grown to more than 300 professional engineers, programmers, military analysts, and instructional systems designers and developers at over 20 locations across the U.S.
About NACCRRA
NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, is our nation’s leading voice for child care. NACCRRA works with more than 800 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to ensure that families in every local community have access to high-quality, affordable child care. To achieve their mission, they lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about NACCRRA and how you can join them in ensuring access to high-quality child care for all families, visit www.naccrra.org.
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