TECPDS for Head Start Programs

The Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS) and the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office (THSSCO) have partnered with Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) to support career development, provide resources, and more!

TECPDS for Head Start Programs

Collaboration on behalf of children and families is one of Head Start’s highest priorities. Since 1990, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has awarded Head Start State Collaboration grants to support the development of multi-agency and public/private partnerships at the State level. By forming this strategic partnership with TECPDS, Head Start can expand its mission and continue to provide resources to support early childhood educators and their families.

For Center Directors/Administrators

Center directors must have an account on TECPDS. Once you create your free TECPDS account, center directors can connect to their staff and affiliated programs.

• Connect staff to your Head Start program (called “centers” on TECPDS)
• Utilize the certificate generation tool for events/trainings
• Safely store and track professional development
• Create & manage verified trainings for approval by TECPDS
• Access center director tools to manage your center and staff professional development
• QR feature for center directors/administrators to connect to your center(s) and staff

For Practitioners

Practitioners (teachers) are not required to have a TECPDS account, but it is considered best practice by the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Child Care Regulation. Practitioner accounts will be able to:

• Find and track your career pathway level and learn about opportunities for advancement
• Access to reports, including the Find My Career Pathway Tool
• Link to your current employer sharing education, employment, and training information
• Request validation of records
• Search early childhood job postings
• Access to professional development tools and resources

Career Advancement Resources on TECPDS

• Job Board: Search the job board to find your next career opportunity on WorkInTexas.com
• Texas Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals: Download our state’s core competencies for early childhood professionals (specific, basic concepts, skills, and abilities that early childhood professionals should learn, understand, and be able to demonstrate)
• Texas Early Childhood Education Career Pathway: Review our state’s career pathway to define an early childhood professional’s level of knowledge and skill mastery and identify steps for advancing your career
• Resources for Trainers: View resources specially selected to support trainers
• Resources for Early Childhood Education Professionals: View resources for all early childhood professionals, including links to other organizations that provide resources, tools, and professional development opportunities
• Resources from the Local Workforce Development Boards: Find resources for your region customized by your local workforce development board
• Certificate Generation Tool: Create standardized certificates and sign-in sheets that include all state-required information for early childhood trainings in Texas. The Certificate Generation Tool allows all trainers to create certificates that meet all state requirements for their training participants. Available to all TECPDS account holders, use this tool to upload certificates directly into the TECPDS accounts of training attendees (if they provided their personal account number). Use the Certificate Generation Tool to create certificates for your face-to-face and online trainings and coaching, and mentoring! The following How-To Guides provide details on how and where to use the Certificate Generation Tool.

Online Training

Early childhood professionals in Texas can access ECE Professional Resources for online trainings, offering certificates of completion.