Research shows that quality early childhood education plays an important role in preparing children to enter school ready to learn. The key to quality programs is the preparation of personnel with whom young children spend a significant portion of their time.

Professional Development Plan

TECTA Local Offices

Austin Peay State University

Chattanooga State Community College

Dyersburg State Community College

East Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University

Roane State Community College

Southwest Tennessee Community College

Tennessee State University

Tennessee Tech University

TECTA Orientation is an academic gateway with a curriculum centered on professional core competencies with 30 hours of FREE early childhood education. TECTA Orientation is free to anyone employed in a DHS or DOE licensed program.

Participants may choose from the five orientation specializations:

Infant Toddler: For providers working with children 6 weeks to 3 years

Center Based: For providers working with children 3 years to 5 years

School Age: For providers working with children 5 years to 12 years

Administrator: For owners, directors and assistant directors

Family Child Care: For Family and Group Home providers

TECTA Orientation Equivalency Protocol

If you are a provider who has completed Early Childhood or Child Development training in a state other than Tennessee, and are inquiring if your trainings are comparable to TECTA Orientation, please refer to the TECTA Orientation Equivalency Protocol and review the process for course equivalency approval.

Step 1: Submit all transcripts, course descriptions etc. via postal mail or email to the TECTA Curriculum Coordinator for review. The documents should include details such as the number of hours you attended the training and contact information for the institution or instructor.

Step 2: The Curriculum Coordinator will review the documents and determine if a participant’s course is equivalent to one of the 5 TECTA Orientation courses. The documents will be evaluated by comparing the course content to all 10 modules of an Orientation.  The 5 TECTA Orientations are:

Infant Toddler

Center Based

School Age

Administrator

Family Child Care

Step 3: The Curriculum Coordinator will contact the participant with the results of the review.

The TECTA Curriculum Coordinator’s contact information is:

Kimberly Smith
Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Blvd.  Box 9500
Nashville, TN 37209
ksmith81@tnstate.edu

SchooStep 3: The Curriculum Coordinator will contact the participant with the results of the review

It's time to get started on your path to professional development.