Back to Work: Early Childhood Education Scholarship Program

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Have you been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? Are you thinking of starting or continuing college in an undergraduate Early Childhood degree/certificate program in Colorado? Our organization is proud to partner with the CColorado Department of Higher Education’s COSI program to help provide the education and training you need for your next job in the Early Childhood field, through the new Back to Work Grant! 

The Colorado Recovery Plan expands the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) grant to support Coloradans that have experienced an economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lost or adverse changes in employment, increased food or housing insecurity, had to withdraw from college after March 13, 2020, or suffered another form of economic loss.

Supports Offered

Participants will receive a one-time scholarship award, up to $2,500! Funds can be spread across your entire degree or certificate, so you can save them for when you need them. Funds can also be used to cover a variety of expenses, including:

• Tuition costs and any fees related to admission or enrollment
• Books and supplies (including up to $1,000 towards the cost of a personal computer)
• Living expenses defined as A: housing, food, clothing, transportation and out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, for students who do not contract with a school for room and board, and B: the cost of room and board, an allowance for the cost of housing and food while attending college or career school)
• Transportation costs to/from classes
• Student loan fees
• Child Care or other dependent care
• Costs related to a disability

Additionally, participants are offered the following supports:

• Support in enrollment, registration, understanding the total cost of obtaining your degree, FAFSA, CASFA, financial aid, scholarships, and more!
• Support in navigating institutional barriers, academic hurdles, and social, wellness, familial, and personal concerns
• 1:1 support to ensure progression toward the completion of your credential/degree
• Support in connecting to resources, careers, and transitioning back into the workforce

Eligibility Guidelines

Participants must meet the following criteria and complete a credential/degree by June 2024:

• Student experienced an economic loss within the last 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lost or adverse changes in employment, increased food or housing insecurity, had to withdraw from college after March 13, 2020, or suffered another form of economic loss.
• Student is seeking to enroll or already enrolled in an undergraudate degree or certificate program related to the Early Childhood field
• Student is enrolled (or plans to enroll) at a Colorado Public Institution of Higher Education
• Student can complete degree/certificate by June 30, 2024
• Student is a Colorado resident with in-state tuition and has an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 14614 or less, as determined by the FAFSA or CASFA. To learn more about the EFC requirement, click here.

• Please Note: If you are already receiving a Back to Work Scholarship or another Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) Scholarship, you are not eligible to receive this scholarship award.

Your online application will be submitted using SSL encryption which ensures your application information is 100% secure.


The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is an equal opportunity scholarship provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in any of its activities or operations. Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are welcome to apply!

For more information about the Back to Work Scholarship, download the Information Flyer

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Program

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Early childhood professionals who have higher education have been shown to have a better understanding of child development and to be more responsive to the educational and academic needs of young children.

The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Program offers early childhood education program directors and teachers a pathway to pursue higher education. Access to scholarships for early childhood education is a critical piece to a successful professional development pathway.

We are affiliated with the national Teacher Education and Compensation Helps Early Childhood® initiative of the Child Care Services Association, and we hold the state license to offer scholarships in Colorado.

The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is an equal opportunity scholarship provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in any of its activities or operations. Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are welcome to apply!

Eligibility

Early childhood education professionals including directors, teachers, and family child care providers who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply.

• Live and work in Colorado 
• Employed full-time* in a licensed early childhood setting defined as:
  • 20+ hours a week if working towards Early Childhood Teacher or Director qualifications
  • 30+ hours a week if working towards an associated or bachelor's degree
• Meet income guidelines**:
  • As an owner or director, earning $35 per hour or less
  • As teaching professionals, earning $25 per hour or less

*Exceptions may be made for programs that do not operate on a full day schedule

**Exceptions may be made for rural resort counties

Scholarship Models

The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Program offers different models that are tailored to early childhood workforce needs across the state. These models will use the same scholarship application, but you will need the corresponding model's Center Participation Agreement. Please ensure you are filling out the correct forms. For assistance, please contact Dallas Brown or Shannon Hall 

• Early Childhood Credential Model
• Director Qualification's Model
• Associate Degree Model
• Bachelor's Degree Model

The Early Childhood Community Specialist Scholarship is a model for early childhood professionals who do not work in licensed care settings. This can include Council staff, substitute teachers, home visitors, coaches and more. If you have questions about this model please contact Shannon Hall.

• Live and work in the early childhood profession in Colorado
• Not currently working in a licensed early care program
• Employed number of hours required by each model (20-40+)
• Meet income guidelines
• Accepted to an accredited Colorado College
• Applied for FAFSA or CASFA
• For the Bachelor's and Master's Models:
  • Have completed the required number of credits:
    • Bachelor's Degree Model: 60+
    • Master's Degree Model: 120+

• Credential/Certificate
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree

Renewal Application

For current T.E.A.C.H. recipients renewing their T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship under the same model they are currently on, please click here to complete the Renewal Application. Once the application is completed, please email to Shannon Hall.

For current T.E.A.C.H. recipients renewing their T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship under a different model, please complete a new application by clicking below.

⇒ If you are having problems getting employer support for our traditional scholarship models, please reachout to Shannon Hall or Dallas Brown to explore other offers that may be available to you.

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado is a licensed program of Child Care Services Association

Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant

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The majority of Colorado children are cared for in home environments. According to a 2015 report by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families, between 2011 to 2015 the number of licensed family child care home programs decreased by 15%. There are many reasons for this decrease, including a stronger economy with better paying jobs available and increasing child care regulations or local regulations that provide challenges the opening of family child care homes (e.g. adoption of the universal building codes by cities and towns).

To address the declining number of licensed slots within family child care home programs and to improve quality within home-based learning environments, the Buell Foundation, along with the Daniels Fund, granted funds to the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) to provide facility improvement funding to family child care home providers. This opportunity is intended to help family child care home providers start up, expand, or maintain consistent operations, increase capacity and reduce the number of family child care homes closing their doors due to financial restrictions.

The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is an equal opportunity grant provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in any of its activities or operations.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a licensed family child care home program.
• The program can have for-profit or non-profit status.
• Funds must be used to serve children from birth to 5 years of age.
• Funds must be utilized to address health, safety, or licensing issues through physical improvements to a facility’s learning environments to maintain or increase capacity.
• Funds cannot be used for retirement of debt, salaries, consultants, COVID related expenses, or reimbursement of projects already completed.
• Applications requesting $2,500 or more must own the facility or provide a letter support from their landlord.
• The maximum amount requested is $5,000.
• Applicant must complete all fields of application and submit all required supporting documentation including ‘before’ photos.
• A family child care home program may receive only one Family Child Care Home Facilities Grant during a 12-month period.
• If awarded, recipient must submit a six-month progress report and a 12-month completion report that includes "after" photos of the funded project.
• Applicant must submit copies of at least two bids for the project.
• If opening a new family child care home program, applicant must be in the pre-licensing stage or have completed pre-licensing.
• If an application is not selected, the applicant may be resubmitted in the next round.
• All Family Child Care Home Improvement Applications must be submitted online in order to be considered for funding. Paper applications will not be accepted at this time.

Funding Priorities

The funding priorities for the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant Include:

1. Statewide geographic distribution
2. Addressing unmet service gaps, and
3. Increasing capacity and access to family child care home programs. In addition, priority will be given to applicants that serve vulnerable families and children

This funding opportunity is not intended to support the loss of revenue due to COVID-19 or other COVID-19 related costs. If you have questions regarding your request, please contact Shannon Hall.

Required Documentation

• The Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant Application.
• A copy of the current and legible license issued by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Early Childhood unless you are in the pre-licensing process in which case you will need to submit documentation of the process including a copy of pre-licensing paperwork speaking to barriers or hurdles you may be facing.
• At least three ‘before’ photos documenting the project before work has started.
• If applicants rent their space, and are requesting $2,500 or more in funding, they must unclude a letter of support from landlord.
• At least two project bids (this can be two bids for the same project to show all considerations made due to cost or other factors)

Technical Assistance Webinars

During each application round, ECCLA will host two optional technical assistance webinars to provide information and answer questions about the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant. The webinars will be recorded and posted on the ECCLA website. To learn more, register for a webinar or listen to a recording, please visit our website www.ecclacolorado.org/fcchgrant

If you have questions about the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant, please read our Frequently Asked Questions. You may also contact Shannon Hall, Director of Workforce Supports.

Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program

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The Rural Reskilling, Upskilling, Next-skilling (R.U.N.) Scholarship Program provides career counseling and tuition support to early childhood professionals in rural communities seeking to reskill, upskill, or next-skill. Wondering what these terms mean? Keep reading to learn more!

On June 23, 2021, Colorado House Bill 21-1264 was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis. The bill appropriated $75 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan through the SLFRF program to support talent development. This Bill created the stimulus investments in reskilling, upskilling, and next-skilling workers program as an initiative of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) to facilitate training for unemployed and underemployed workers in the state during times of substantial unemployment. This Bill appropriated funds and directed the CWDC to use these funds to support individuals in need of:

• Reskilling, which supports unemployed and underemployed workers to change industries in order to return to work or obtain more appropriate work based on their skills;
• Upskilling, which assists workers in increasing skill levels to retain or advance in their employment; or
• Next-skilling, which supports workers in developing future-ready skills necessary for employment in the twenty-first century.

The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is an equal opportunity scholarship provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in any of its activities or operations. Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are welcome to apply!

Eligibility Guidelines

Participants must meet the following criteria:

• Participant meets the age requirement of 16 or older
• Participant resides in an area covered by the Rural Workforce Consortium
  • Including Eastern Sub-Area, Southeast Sub-Area, Pueblo Sub-Area, Upper Arkansas Sub-Area, South Central Sub-Area, Western Sub-Area, Southwest Sub-Area, Rural Resort Sub-Area, and Northwest Sub-Area (the Broomfield Sub-Area is not an eligible sub-area)
• Participant is unemployed and available for work in the early childhood field (this includes those who have looked for work sometime in the past 12 months) OR is currently employed but seeking to move to a job within the early childhood field that provides better opportunities for career advancement
• Participant experienced an economic loss within the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lost or adverse changes in employment, increased food or housing insecurity, had to withdraw from college after March 13, 2020, or suffered another form of economic loss OR participant currently qualifies for any of the following federal assistance programs:
  • Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Childcare Subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Program
  • Medicaid
  • National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) – for affordable housing programs only
  • Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) – for affordable housing programs only
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs
  • Medicare Part D Low-income Subsidies
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Head Start and/or Early Head Start
  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • Section 8 Vouchers Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  • Pell Grants

Your online application will be submitted using SSL encryption which ensures your application information is 100% secure

Scholarship Models

The Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program works with several early childhood credential programs:

• ECE Entry Certificate or Entry-Level Teacher Certificate
• ECE Assistant Teacher Certificate
• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
  • Infant-Toddler
  • Preschool
  • Family Child Care
• Early Childhood Teacher Certificate
• Infant Nursery Supervisor Certificate or Infant/Toddler Supervisor Certificate
• Coaching Credential Director Certificate Aim4Excellence™ National Director Certificate

Supports Offered

Participants will receive a one-time scholarship award applicable towards the cost of their credential. Additionally, participants are offered the following supports:

• Career counseling and support
• 1:1 support to ensure progression toward the completion of your credential
• Support in connecting to resources, careers, and transitioning back into the workforce

Apply Now!

EC Coach Credential Scholarship Program

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Why become an early childhood coach?

In the 2019 Colorado Shines Brighter (Colorado’s Preschool Development Grant) Needs Assessment, one of the top priorities for the state was to “Continue Investing in Quality-Enhancing Professional Development Opportunities and Workforce Recruitment and Retention Across the Early Care and Education Landscape” and to “Continue to Develop a Diverse Early Childhood Workforce.” A potential avenue for the advancement, retention, and recruitment of early childhood professionals is through free and accessible professional development opportunities, including coaching. Increasing access to coaching provides opportunities for professionals to have more individualized access to knowledge specific to their individual needs and career supports. To make this opportunity possible, there needs to be credentialed coaches to meet the needs of the early childhood professionals.

Studies have shown coaching to be one of the most effective ways to support adult educators in learning new knowledge and skills (Joyce & Showers, 2002).

In partnership with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is offering a scholarship opportunity for early childhood professionals seeking an Early Childhood Coaching Credential. Applicants may choose between several CDEC-approved coaching programs. The coaching credential course will take three months to complete and is delivered virtually with a live instructor.

Early Childhood Coach Credential Requirements

• Complete a CDEC-approved coach credential program
• Complete your coach self-assessment and individualized professional development plan in PDIS
• Apply for the Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0 in PDIS and earn a level 3 or higher
• Apply for Early Childhood Coach Credential in PDIS
• The coach credential must be renewed within PDIS every three years. To maintain the credential, a coach must complete at least 8 hours of Reflective Supervision a year, which equates to 24 hours of Reflective Supervision needed by the renewal period

Eligibility Guidelines

Participants must meet the following criteria and be enrolled in a coaching credential program by June 2023:

• Applicant is a Colorado resident
• Applicant has at least 2 years of experience working in a licensed early childhood center
• Applicant is registered within the Professional Development Information System (PDIS)
• Applicant already holds a Level 3 Early Childhood Professional Credential Level in PDIS, or can earn the credential by the end of their coaching credential program
• Applicant has NOT already completed Relationship-based Professional Development, or any other CDEC approved coaching curriculum

Supports Offered to the Scholarship Recipient

• Support in enrollment, registration, and coaching credential application
• Support with meeting Reflective Supervision hours
• 1:1 support to ensure progression toward the completion of your credential
• Support with connecting to coaching resources and networks

Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Approved Coaching Programs

Relationship-based Professional Development

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood provides Relationship-Based Professional Development (RBPD) virtually to communities across the state at no cost to participants. This coaching-specific training meets the training requirement for the Colorado Coaching Credential. Topics covered include: characteristics of coaching in early childhood settings, working with adult learners, coaching skills, reflective practice and tools to support the coach and coaching partner in continuous quality improvement. To receive a certificate of completion for RBPD, participants must complete the 35-hour hybrid training including attending the live instructor-led sessions and engaging in self-paced, online assignments. Click HERE to be added to the RBPD Waitlist.

Dynamic Coaching Systems

Coaching Certificate Program

The Coaching Certificate Program supports the development of a coaching mindset grounded in the understanding of equity, behavioral sciences, and systemic educational practices. Each Cohort engages in shared learning and reflective dialogue as they examine, analyze and refine their coaching competencies. Due to this Program being offered remotely through Zoom, participants bring an incredible diversity of cultures, languages, geographical locations, and thinking from all over the United States, a core element of our group learning process.

The Spring 2023 Cohort #19 is full, but scholarship applicants are eligible for reimbursement for those already enrolled if certain criteria are met. Summer 2023 Cohort #20 has availability.

University of Colorado - Denver

Undergraduate or Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Coaching

The three-course certificate will provide you with foundational coaching skills and practices, peer connections, reflection, self-awareness, and systems thinking. Strong coaching relationships will help you achieve positive results with coworkers, networks, and children in your care. The unique cohort model used in this coaching certificate program inspires equity, diversity and inclusion as the group creates collective accountability in co-learning.

Course Details: ECED 4410/5410 - Coaching Early Childhood Professionals: Foundations

Dates: Classes take place virtually on every other Tuesday from 5:00pm- 7:30 pm MST beginning January 14th to May 13, 2023

Horizons in Learning

Transformational Coaching

The Transformational Coaching Course offers coaches, professional development specialists, mentors and leaders ‘principles to practice’ on how to effectively facilitate change, to broaden and deepen professional practices of educators or administrators, and intentionally support sustainable habits of reflection, problem solving and lifelong learning. This course is based on Constant Hine’s book Transformational Coaching for Early Childhood Educators (2019 RedLeaf Press). This course format is designed to be delivered in 11 virtual live sessions. Each session is 3.5 hours.

Dates: February 15, 2023 – April 27, 2023

Students must register through the Horizons in Learning registration page AND on PDIS. Deadline to enroll for the Spring cohort is February 1, 2023

Healthy Child Care Colorado

Pyramid Facilitator Certification (2022-2023 Cohort is already in progress and closed to new applicants)

The Pyramid Facilitator Certification is an intentional professional development pathway designed to support professionals in their efforts to improve and support the capacity of state systems, communities, and local programs that implement the Pyramid Model.

This certification will prepare you to deliver Pyramid Model training, become reliable in Pyramid observation tools, provide coaching on Pyramid practices, and participate in program-wide leadership team planning, as well as help you build relationships with other Pyramid practitioners across the state. And, to support our states overall coaching capacity, completing Pyramid Facilitator Certification is a specific pathway meeting all of your needs to apply for a Coach Credential in Colorado’s Professional Development Information System (PDIS).

Red Rocks Community College

Course Title: Intro to Relationship-based Mentoring and Intro to Relationship-based Mentoring Techniques

Course Description: Mentoring is helping people to develop more effectively. It is a relationship designed to build confidence and support the mentoring partner so they are able to take control of their own development and work. Mentoring is listening and asking questions that will challenge the mentoring partner to identify the course of action they need to take in regard to their own development.

When: February 15, 2023- May 3, 2023

Registration Deadline: February 13, 2022

For more information contact: Janiece Kneppe, RRCC EDE EDU Chair at janiece.kneppe@rrcc.edu

Contact sarah@ecclacolorado.org for questions regarding the EC Coach Credential Scholarship Program

Process

Before Applying, Gather Documents:
Documents Required for the Back to Work: Early Childhood Education Scholarship Application: Proof of Admission to College, Unofficial Transcripts, Verification of FAFSA/CASFA.

Documents Required for the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Application: Proof of Admission to College, Unofficial Transcripts, Verification of FAFSA/CASFA, Center Participation Agreement, Center Profile, Current Paystub, PDIS Registration Verification.

Documents Required for the Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Application (ONLY NEEDED IF YOUR CREDENTIAL INVOLVES COLLEGE COURSES): Proof of Admission to College, Unofficial Transcripts, Verification of FAFSA/CASFA

1. Register

Click on the "Register" link and complete and submit the registration form.

2. Login

Login to the award with your email and password.

3. Create

Create your online application. Your online application will be submitted using SSL encryption which ensures your application information is 100% secure.

4. Save

During the Call for Applications period, your application can be saved as DRAFT until all the required information is completed and attachments uploaded. As each section is complete, you will see a appear in the category tab when the application is saved. At any time, you can download and print your application by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section.

5. Submit

On completion, save your Application as FINAL. Download and print a copy of your application for your records by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section in the right column. Note: If an update is required prior to the Call for Applications period, you can make the update and resave as FINAL.

If you require assistance or additional information for the Back to Work: Early Childhood Education Scholarship Program OR the Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program, please contact Cameron Fall

If you require assistance or additional information for the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant OR the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Program, please contact Shannon Hall