Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship Program
Why Become an Early Childhood Coach?
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n 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.
Contact Us
Cameron Fall, Scholarship and Career Coordinator
Ph: (720) 899-3048
Em: cameron@ecclacolorado.org
Mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.
Do you need translation? Please contact Cameron Fall to schedule a meeting.
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Resources
Eligibility Guidelines
Participants must meet the following criteria and be enrolled in a coaching credential program by June 2024:
- Applicant is a Colorado resident
- Applicant is currently employed (or is seeking employment) in the early childhood profession and has at least two years experience working in a licensed early childhood center or family child care home
- Applicant has not already completed the Relationship-Based Professional Development Course or another department-approved coaching course in the past (see below for a list of department-approved coaching courses):
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood – Relationship-Based Professional Development Course
- Dynamic Coaching Systems – Coaching Certificate
- Horizons in Learning – Transformational Coaching Course
- Invest in Kids – Incredible Years Peer Coach Training
- Healthy Child Care Colorado – Pyramid Colorado Facilitator Certification
- Red Rocks Community College – Relationship-Based Mentoring Courses
- University of Colorado Denver – Coaching Certificate
- Applicant is registered within the Professional Development Information System (PDIS)
- Applicant currently holds (or will apply for) an Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0 – Level 3 or higher
- Applicant does not currently hold (or has not held in the past) an Early Childhood Coach Credential.
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!
Scholarship Commitments and Expectations
If awarded, Applicant commits to:
- Enroll in a CDEC approved coaching credential program that is currently partnering with ECCLA.
- Enroll in an approved coaching credential program no later than June 2024
- Apply for the coaching credential through PDIS within 60 days upon completion of the coaching course
- Complete 8 hours of Reflective Supervision (RS) a year; totaling 24 hours of RS every 3 years to meet the coaching credential renewal guidelines
- Complete a minimum of 15 hours of Professional Development per year to maintain your Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0
Supports Offered
- 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
Approved Coaching Programs
All programs below are offered virtually unless otherwise stated. While some programs may offer a year-long, three-part Certificate in Early Childhood Coaching, ECCLA’s Coach Credential Scholarship Program will only cover the cost of Part 1 which satisfies the eligibility requirements for an Early Childhood Coach Credential in PDIS.
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The Colorado Department of Early Childhood provides Relationship-Based Professional Development (RBPD) virtually to communities across the state at no cost to participants. Interested candidates may add themselves to the RBPD waitlist as space and capacity are limited.
- 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.
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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.
- Interested candidates do not need to apply for ECCLA's Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship Program to enroll in RBPD. RBPD is FREE! Please click here or the link above for the waitlist.
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Dynamic Coaching Systems provides a year-long three-part Coaching Certificate program virtually to communities across the United States. -
To receive a certificate of completion for the program, participants must complete the required 95-hours of learning along with 45-hours of practicum work including attending the live instructor-led sessions and engaging in self-paced, online assignments. Each Cohort engages in shared learning and reflective dialogue as they examine, analyze and refine their coaching competencies. Cohorts meet two Thursdays per month + 1 Saturday class. -
The Coaching Certificate Program supports the development of a coaching mindset grounded in the understanding of equity, behavioral sciences and systemic educational practices. This is the only early childhood coaching certificate program in the US enhancing universal coaching competencies as developed by the International Coaching Federation and fully research- and evidence-based.
- The Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship will only cover Part I of the Three-Part Coaching Certificate. Part I satisfies the requirements of the PDIS Coach Credential Application. Participants are responsible for covering the remaining costs and are encouraged to apply for ECCLA's T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship (under the Credential/Certificate Model) if financial assistance is needed.
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Interested candidates may enroll in either of the following cohorts:
Cohort 24 (May 2024 – April 2025) - Registration open until 4/29/24
Cohort 25 (August 2024 - August 2025) - Registration open until 8/19/24
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Horizons in Learning provides the Transformational Coaching Course virtually to communities across the United States. -
This course format is designed to be delivered in 11 virtual live sessions. Each session is 3.5 hours. The sessions will be delivered over several weeks over a 2-3 month span of time. The course will be delivered via Zoom and Google. Participants will need to have access to devices/computers that have a camera. Interested candidates must review the course schedule prior to applying and registering. Participants will incur a $100.00 nonrefundable fee for withdraw or transfer after the course closing date. Participants will meet monthly on Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays from 9:30am - 1:00PM MST. -
Transformational Coaching 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). -
Interested candidates may enroll in the following semester:
Summer 2024 (June 2024 - August 2024) - Application open until 5/23/24. Registration is required through Horizons in Learning and through PDIS.
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The Colorado Community College System provides Relationship-Based Mentoring Courses (EDU 2251 - 3 credits & EDU 2255 - 1 credit) virtually to communities across the state. -
To receive an academic transcript after completion of the courses, participants must attend all virtual class meeting times and successfully complete homework and practicum work. These courses are offered in the Spring and Fall semesters from any Community College in the State of Colorado. -
Mentoring is the process of supporting professionals to develop more effectively. Mentoring 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. These courses are offered in the Spring and Fall semesters. -
Interested candidates may enroll in the following semester:
Fall 2024 (August 2024 - December 2024) - Fall enrollment open March 2024 - August 2024. Students must apply for admission at the Community College of their choice prior to enrolling in courses.
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Healthy Child Care Colorado provides a ten-month Pyramid Facilitator Certification virtually to communities across the state. -
To enroll in the program, interested candidates must submit an application and enrollment is not guaranteed after application. To receive a certificate of completion for the program, participants must be available to attend professional development events and select one observation tool to become reliable during the Certification process and plan to identify coaching partners for that tool/age group. -
Pyramid Facilitator Certification is an intentional development pathway designed to support professionals in their efforts to improve and support the capacity of state systems and local programs to implement the Pyramid Model, an early childhood multi-tiered system of support to improve the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children, birth to five years of age.
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Interested candidates may apply to enroll in the following cohort:
Cohort 4 (August 2024 – June 2025) - Application open 5/1/24-5/31/24
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The University of Colorado Denver provides a year-long three-part Certificate in Early Childhood Coaching virtually to communities across the state. -
To receive an academic transcript after completion of the courses, participants must attend all virtual class meeting times and successfully complete homework and practicum work. There is one cohort per year that starts in the Spring semester and ends at the end of the the Fall semester. -
Coaching has been shown to have a major influence on early childhood professional practice that, in turn, improves program quality and child growth outcomes in early childhood settings. Quality relationship-based teaching and learning is instrumental to positive early childhood experiences. The coach and coaching partner relationship focuses specifically on maximizing the human potential of professionals in the field. The Foundations course focuses on learning, understanding and using relationship- and evidence-based coaching skills in early childhood settings. Students will practice the fundamentals of coaching using a systematic, individualized, reflective approach, and sharing experiences with others in the course. -
The Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship will only cover Course I: Foundations (ECED 4410/ECED 5410) of the Three-Course Coaching Certificate. Course I satisfies the requirements of the PDIS Coach Credential Application. Participants are responsible for covering the remaining costs if they wish to continue and are encouraged to apply for ECCLA's T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship (under the Credential/Certificate Model) if financial assistance is needed. -
Interested candidates may enroll in the following semester:
Spring 2025 (January 2025 - May 2025) - Spring enrollment open November 2024 - January 2025.
Reflective Supervision
Thanks to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, ECCLA has funding to offer FREE Reflective Supervision (RS) to ANY credentialed Early Childhood Coach in Colorado who needs it! Keep reading for more information.
The Reflective Supervision (RS) Supervisors and Consultants listed below were contracted by the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) and funded by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) to provide group-based RS to early childhood coaches across Colorado.
Guidelines for Early Childhood Coaches:
- Contact the RS Supervisor directly to schedule regular RS meetings. You can click each name or email below to contact and schedule.
- Coaches are expected to meet with their RS Supervisor once a month for a 90 minute-2 hour session
- RS Supervisors are on a first come-first save basis with a group limit of 4
- Availability of RS Supervisors is subject to change
- Interpretation/translation services are available upon request. RS Supervisors marked with a (B) are bilingual Spanish/English or have an interpreter on hand, RS Supervisors marked with a (D) have Farsi and Arabic interpreters on hand
- Coaches will NOT be charged for sessions provided by the RS Supervisors listed here
You can click each name or email below to contact and schedule. If you are having trouble connecting with a RS Supervisor or finding a session that works with your schedule, then please reach out to Stephanie Martin.
Monday-Friday Availability
Monday & Tuesday: AM & PM
Monday-Friday: AM & PM
Monday-Friday: PM Only
Monday-Friday: AM & PM
Monday-Thursday: PM Only
Monday-Friday: AM & PM (in-person depending on location or virtual)
Weekend Availability
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday Only
If Needed
If Needed
Saturday Only
Reflective Supervisors/Consultants: If you did NOT submit a proposal to ECCLA but still wish to offer RS, then please send an email with the following information to Stephanie Martin.
- Name
- Brief overview of RS experience
- Availability
- Cost per session
- Method of delivery (in person or virtual)
Frequently Asked Questions
About Coaching in Early Childhood Education
Early childhood coaching is an interactive, strength-based approach used to support educators in implementing high quality teaching practices and to continuously improve the quality of early learning programs. The Colorado Early Childhood Coaching Competencies define coaching as “a co-learning process based on a collaborative relationship that is intentionally designed to promote sustainable growth in necessary attitudes, skills, and knowledge to effectively implement best practices for the development of young children.”
An early childhood coach is a professional who works in partnership with early childhood educators to implement high quality teaching practices and engage in continuous improvement of the early learning environment. Early childhood coaches support educators with setting and accomplishing goals through reflection, discussion, and observation.
Reflective supervision is a relationship-based approach that includes regular reflection and utilizes supervision as an opportunity for learning and development. Reflective supervision can take place individually or within a group setting, and encourages providers to reflect on their practices, assess and evaluate situations, and set goals. As stated by Zero to Three, the three building blocks of reflective supervision are reflection, collaboration, and regularity (2016).
Aligned to the Colorado Competencies for Early Childhood Coaches, the Colorado Early Childhood Coach Credential provides statewide recognition to early childhood professionals who have the foundational skills and dispositions necessary for effective coaching in the early childhood field. Credentialed coaches participate in department approved, coaching-specific training and engage in ongoing professional development with a trained reflective supervisor to maintain their coach credential. Professionals seeking an Early Childhood Coach Credential must:
- Complete a CDEC-approved coaching specific training
- 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
About ECCLA's Coach Credential Scholarship Program
To be considered for an Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship, participants must meet the following criteria and be enrolled in a coaching credential program by June 2024:
- Applicant is a Colorado resident
- Applicant is currently employed (or is seeking employment) in the early childhood profession and has at least two years experience working in a licensed early childhood center or family child care home
- Applicant has not already completed Relationship-Based Professional Development or another department approved coaching program
- Applicant is registered within the Professional Development Information System (PDIS)
- Applicant currently holds (or will apply for) an Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0 – Level 3 or higher
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!
No. ECCLA’s Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship Program is for participants who have not already completed Relationship-Based Professional Development or another department approved coaching program.
For available programs, see above. All programs are offered virtually unless otherwise stated. While some programs may offer a year-long, three-part Certificate in Early Childhood Coaching, ECCLA’s Coach Credential Scholarship Program will only cover the cost of Part 1 which satisfies the eligibility requirements for an Early Childhood Coach Credential.
No. Some programs offer a year-long, three-part Certificate in Early Childhood Coaching. ECCLA’s Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship Program will only cover the cost of Part 1 of these specific programs, which satisfies the eligibility requirements for an Early Childhood Coach Credential in PDIS. For available programs, see above.