Founded in 1985, the Council for Professional Recognition is a nonprofit organization located in Washington, DC. The Council promotes improved performance and recognition of professionals in early childhood care and education - the people who work with children from birth through five years of age in early childhood centers, family child care homes, and as home visitors. In keeping with its goal to meet the growing need for qualified child care staff, the Council administers the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program. The CDA Program is designed to assess and credential early childhood care and education professionals based on performance. The Council sets the policies and procedures for assessment and credentialing, publishes the Competency Standards and other material used for CDA credentialing, and administers the assessment. Other professional improvement activities of the Council include: publishing materials to support professional development activities, including the CDA preparation process; administering a Military School-Age Credential; and operating a CDA Professional Preparation Program (CDA P3 ).