(CO) Become ECE Lead Teacher Qualified

(CO) Become ECE Lead Teacher Qualified

This article is for those who have already completed Early Childhood qualification for HelloSubs. Want to become ECE qualified? Start with this article.

How to Become ECE Lead Teacher Qualified with HelloSubs in Colorado

What is an ECE Lead Teacher? - An ECE Lead Teacher has met CDEC requirements to lead an early childhood classroom, and is an essential need for childcare centers. Lead Teachers, also known as Level 2 teachers or ECT's, are able to supervise children alone in various capacities and offer more versatile substitute coverage for the center.

How does this differ from an ECE Assistant Teacher? - ECE Assistant teachers are vital to substitute coverage, but with limited coverage abilities . An Assistant Teacher, also known as a Level 1 teacher or non-ECT teacher, is not able to supervise children alone and therefore is limited in their capacity to assist early childcare centers.

By completing HelloSubs ECE Qualification process, HelloSubs ECE teachers are minimally qualified as an Assistant Teacher. This article will provide information for how to become Lead Teacher qualified.

Pre-requisites for Lead Teacher qualification

In addition to the areas covered below, there are several pre-requisites for becoming Lead Teacher qualified:

In-Person CPR/First Aid Certification
While the PDIS Intro to First Aid is sufficient for Assistant Teacher's, an In-Person CPR/First Aid certification is required for Lead Teacher qualification. Find more information here: https://support.hellosubs.co/portal/en/kb/articles/cpr-first-aid-certification-for-early-childhood-co. 

Out of State Background Check Eligibility Letter (if applicable)
Reminder: Out of State Checks are ONLY required for teachers who have resided outside of Colorado within the past five (5) years. For more information, check out this article.
If the Out of State Check is required, HelloSubs must receive an Out of State Eligibility Letter before the teacher can be Lead Teacher qualified. This process can take up to 45 days, so it is prudent to complete the submission process quickly and correctly. Contact support@hellosubs.co for assistance if needed.

Alert
Have you already achieved a Level 2 or higher credential from the CDEC? Send your credentials via email to support@hellosubs.co with the subject line 'CDEC Level 2 Credentials'

How to Become Lead Teacher Qualified

HelloSubs teachers must obtain an Early Childhood Professional Credential as a Level 2 or above to be activated for Lead Teacher roles. Applications can be submitted and reviewed through the Colorado Shines portal. Follow these steps to submit your application:
  1. Go to https://www.coloradoshinespdis.com/s/?language=en_US
  2. Click 'Credentials & Qualifications'
  3. Click 'New Application'
  4. Select 'Credential and Consultative Roles'
  5. Select 'Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0'
  6. Click 'Check Eligibility'
If you are eligible for ECPC Level 2 or above credential, then you will be able to move forward with the application. If you are not eligible, then you will be able complete professional development through PDIS to achieve eligibility.

Read below for more information on the Colorado Shines eligibility calculator and how to become eligible through PDIS.

Eligibility for Early Childhood Professional Credential

The CDEC uses a scoring system to determine eligibility for Lead Teacher qualification. The scoring system includes four categories:
  1. Formal Education
  2. Professional Development (PDIS)
  3. Experience
  4. Demonstrated Competencies

To become Lead Teacher qualified (CDEC Level 2), the teacher must have accrued a minimum of 21 points in the above four categories.

This article offers a quick guide, however for more detailed information on each category, check out the CDEC's ECE Credential Scoresheet.

Formal Education

Depending on your background, you may already be Lead Teacher qualified via Formal Education. Degrees and coursework from regionally accredited institutions can count towards Lead Teacher qualification. Here is a quick breakdown of point value for various degrees:

Degree
Degree in Early Childhood
Early Childhood-Related
Unrelated
Associate's
20
10
5
Bachelor's
30
15
10
Master's
40
20
15
Doctorate
50
30
20
Only your highest degree achieved can be used towards scoring

Early Childhood coursework, even without a requisite degree, can also count towards qualification. This includes coursework completed as part of an unrelated/incomplete degree, or a degree in progress. Here is a breakdown of point value for ECE coursework:
  1. 1 semester credit: 1.0 points
  2. 1 trimester credit: .83 points
  3. 1 quarter credit: .67 points
Alert
Do you have a degree or certificate in Early Childhood education that was not listed above? Send a copy to support@hellosubs.co to see if it is eligible for Lead Teacher qualification!

How to submit formal education to HelloSubs
HelloSubs needs to have your formal education on file to verify Lead Teacher eligibility status. Submit the following to support@hellosubs.co:
  1. Photo/copy/scan of Degree(s) or Certificate(s)
  2. Official Transcripts - Transcripts can be sent directly via Registrar's office, or downloaded from institution's student portal if available

Experience

Experience in the area of early childhood care and education can also count towards Lead Teacher qualification: 1,820 hours = One (1) Year = 1.0 Points

Early Childhood experience is defined by the CDEC as:
Verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than eight (8) years of age who are not related to the individual.

All ECE experience must be verified by HelloSubs to count towards Lead Teacher qualification. To have experience verified, send the following info for EACH experience to support@hellosubs.co:
  1. Name of company/institution
  2. Dates of Employment
  3. Estimated hours per week

Professional Development (PDIS)

The quickest way to gain points towards Lead Teacher qualification is through Professional Development (PDIS): 1 credit-hour = 1.0 Points
Info
For more information on Professional Development, including recommended PDIS courses to complete, check out this article: https://support.hellosubs.co/portal/en/kb/articles/professional-development-for-colorado-early-childhood-pdis 
Only certain PDIS courses count towards Lead Teacher qualification. These courses are marked in PDIS as "Colorado Shines Level 2". All HelloSubs teachers who have completed ECE qualification will already have 3.5 hours of Level 2 coursework. To complete additional Level 2 coursework, follow these steps:
1. Go to Colorado Shines 
2. Go to 'Learning' > 'Learning Search'
3. Go to 'Filters' > 'Subject' > 'Colorado Shines Level 2'

Any course listed under Colorado Shines Level 2 will count towards Lead Teacher qualification. Submit all completed certificates to Support@hellosubs.co.