Early Childhood Educator Certificate

The Challenge

A teacher sitting next to a young student.

Butler University’s College of Education and Early Learning Indiana have collaborated to develop an accessible, affordable, and fast-tracked early childhood educator certificate program. This program aims to address the nationwide crisis in early childhood education, particularly in Indiana, where a significant percentage of children and families lack access to high quality childcare services. The program also responds to the increasing demand for qualified teachers in early childhood centers. Historically, the field has relied on the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which falls short in providing the necessary theoretical knowledge and pedagogical skills. Alternatively, early childhood educators could pursue TEACH grants for bachelor’s degrees, but these programs take years to complete.

The Solution

Butler University and Early Learning Indiana (ELI) have collaborated to create the Early Childhood Educator Certificate program, with the support of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation (RMFF), Ascend Indiana (Ascend), and Butler+. This program is an innovative and accessible pathway for individuals seeking to become early childhood educators. It offers comprehensive professional preparation that takes into account the unique circumstances of the candidates. The program consists of 12 courses, each 4 weeks in length, totaling 960 hours, and can be completed in approximately 15 months. It incorporates Reggio-inspired teaching, inquiry-based learning, and culturally responsive teaching methods. The program combines online learning with practical experiences in real classrooms, while also providing mentorship and support services to the candidates.

Now accepting applications for Cohort 3 starting March 18, 2024! Apply before February 23, 2024.

Thanks to the generous support of Early Learning Indiana, applicants for Cohort 3 can also elect to be considered for a full program scholarship. Applicants can apply for both the program and the scholarship in a single application. When you apply for the program, simply let us know you’re interested in the scholarship, and you’ll automatically be considered for both.

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Program Details

The Early Childhood Educator Certificate

Combines online learning and job-embedded experiences,
Provides professional development and wraparound services

The program will annually prepare up to 90 highly-qualified and work-ready early childhood educators equipped to lead early childhood classrooms and continue their careers in the field.

Learning Objectives

The Early Childhood Educator Certificate prepares you to lead an early childhood classroom. Upon completion, you will be able to:

Implement an equity framework for culturally responsive teaching that builds on the strengths and brilliance of the child through play and inquiry
Create identity affirming spaces for learners that nurture children’s identities, develop their minds and bodies, and foster social emotional health and happiness
Use developmentally appropriate strategies and tools for teaching and assessing reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies that support children’s meaning-making
Develop identity as an early childhood professional, aspiring teacher-leader, and life-long learner

Program Curriculum

12 courses (4 weeks each)

Unit 1: An Equity Framework for Teaching & Learning

(001 ECE) Becoming Culturally Responsive Educators
(002 ECE) Children Learning Through Play & Inquiry

Unit 2: Classroom Environments for Growing ALL Learners

(003 ECE) Developing Minds & Bodies
(004 ECE) Nurturing Identities & Building Communities
(005 ECE) Fostering Social Emotional Health & Happiness

Unit 3: Teacher as Researcher: Constructing Curriculum

(006 ECE) Making Learning Visible
(007 ECE) Cultivating Readers & Writers (Part a)
(008 ECE) Cultivating Readers & Writers (Part b)
(009 ECE) Teaching Young Mathematicians
(010 ECE) Science & Social Studies for Our Youngest Learners

Unit 4: Thriving as Early Childhood Professionals

(011 ECE) Engaging Learners: A Project Approach
(012 ECE) Beliefs Matter: Teacher Identity

Every candidate participating in the program will be paired with a Cooperative Teacher (CT) to support their in-person learning and application and their professional journey. A CT is an experienced early childhood educator employed at an early childhood center. While the CTs’ primary responsibility is to provide high-quality experiences for the children in their classroom, in this role they will assume additional responsibilities including: (i) serving as mentors to program candidates, (ii) facilitating program-related learning opportunities in early childhood classrooms, and (iii) sharing candidates’ progress with Butler faculty. Each early childhood center participating in the program will be responsible for securing CTs to support their candidates.

To Apply

Complete the online application
Submit two character references
Submit program participation agreement
Submit high school transcript (official or unofficial) or equivalency with posted date of graduation or completion OR submit college transcript (official or unofficial)

Butler faculty will review program applications, and all applicants who meet application requirements will be accepted, in order of application date. If the number of accepted applicants exceeds the next cohort’s capacity, accepted applicants will be placed on a waitlist.

Deadlines

The program has the following available start dates:

September 5, 2023—Applications must be completed by August 15, 2023
November 13, 2023—Applications must be completed by October 23, 2023
March 18, 2024—Applications must be completed by February 23, 2024.

The Cooperative Teacher Model is a critical component of the Early Childhood Educator Certificate program. The model enables program candidates’ in-person learning in the early childhood classroom by creating opportunities for candidates to connect curriculum and practice and to apply new learnings. Every candidate participating in the program will be paired with a Cooperative Teacher to support their academic journey.

A Cooperative Teacher is an experienced early childhood educator employed at the candidate’s early childhood setting. Cooperative Teachers:

Serve as mentors to program candidates
Facilitate program-related learning opportunities in their early childhood classrooms
Share candidates’ progress with Butler faculty

Learn more and apply to be a Cooperative Teacher.

A resume is requested in the application. If you need assistance creating a resume, Resume Builder is a free tool that can help.

If approved as a Cooperative Teacher (CT) and matched to a candidate, the CT is required to:

Sign the CT agreement
Submit IRS Form W-9

Student FAQs

Is this program geared towards just team leads? No, all teachers in an early childhood setting are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Could this program be for people who are not yet teachers? Yes, this program is also for people who are trying to advance in their careers and have access to an early childhood classroom, but are not yet teachers.
Why should I apply?
- The Early Childhood Educator Certificate prepares you to lead an early childhood classroom. Upon completion, you will be able to:
- Implement an equity framework for culturally responsive teaching that builds on the strengths and brilliance of the child through play and inquiry.
- Create “identity affirming” spaces* for learners that nurture children’s identities, develop their minds and bodies, and foster social emotional health and happiness.
- Use developmentally appropriate strategies and tools for teaching and assessing reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies that supports children’s meaning-making.
- Develop identity as an early childhood professional, aspiring teacher-leader, and life-long learner.

What are the requirements to apply?
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Currently employed in an early childhood setting or have access to an early childhood classroom
- The early childhood setting that you will be utilizing agrees to participate in the program
- Access to the technology needed to complete the course work
How do I apply?
- Confirm your early childhood setting is willing to support your participation*
- Identify a Cooperative Teacher
- Complete the online application
- Submit high school transcript (official or unofficial) or equivalency with posted date of graduation or completion OR submit college transcript (official or unofficial)
- Ask your Cooperative Teacher to complete their online application
- Submit program participation agreement
What happens after I apply?
- You will receive an email with instructions to set up your student status page. This is where you can see the latest information about your application.
- Butler staff will review your application to ensure that it’s complete. If anything is missing, you will receive an email.
- Once your application is complete, you will receive an email confirming that it is complete and being reviewed.
- You should receive a decision within two weeks of your application being complete.
- Your early learning childhood setting will be notified of your application status.
- If you are self-pay, you will need to select a payment method and complete an initial payment.
What happens if the program is full for the start date that I selected?
- If you complete your application and you are found to be admissible but there is no space in the program for the start date you selected, then you will be placed on a waitlist and sent an email. We will ask you to reply to the waitlist offer to indicate if you wish to remain on the waitlist.
If you reply Yes, we will admit you to the cohort if space becomes available. If space does not become available, then we will change your start date to the next available cohort and email you to let you know this.
If you reply No to remaining on our waitlist, then we will withdraw your application. If you would like to reactivate it for a later start date, please email us at eccert@butler.edu.
What are my next steps once I receive my offer of admission from Butler?
- Reply to the offer of admission
- Access your new Butler account
- Review Program and University Policies
- Complete your online orientation
- Access your course on the scheduled start date
Will my early childhood setting receive updates on my application status as well?
- Yes, your early learning setting will receive an update if you are admitted, denied, or placed on a waiting list.

Is this program eligible for federal financial aid?
- No, this program is not eligible for federal financial aid.
Is there additional funding or scholarships available for this program?
- AmeriCorps
  - AmeriCorps Alums: Your Segal Education Award can be used towards the cost of the Early Childhood Educator Certificate. Use the MyAmeriCorps portal to request a payment from your award to Butler University or visit Education Award find out more | AmeriCorps for more information about managing your award.
- Next Level
  - Early childhood centers are eligible for employer training grants through next level jobs: Eligible Occupations | Next Level Jobs
  - Early childhood centers can apply for a reimbursement grant to $5,000 per employee who is trained, hired, and retained for six months, up to $50,000 per employer.
  - Information on the grant and how early childhood centers can request access to the employer portal is here: DWD: Next Level Jobs – Employer Training Grant
- IYI grant
  - The Indiana Youth Institute offers Professional Development Grants to youth workers up to $750 per fiscal year.
  - Information on the grant criteria and how to apply can be found here:
- Check with your center for full or partial funding options.
- Thanks to the generous support of Early Learning Indiana, applicants for Cohort 3 can also elect to be considered for a full program scholarship. Our streamlined application process, allows applicants to apply for both the program and the scholarship in a single application. When you apply for the program, simply let us know you’re interested in the scholarship, and you’ll automatically be considered for both.
Are there payment plans available?
- Students can select from three program payment options at registration:

Pay the program tuition in full
Pay the tuition for each course individually
Pay the tuition for multiple courses together

What is the cost of the program?
- $833/course (12 courses) or $9,996 (full certificate)
How do I make my tuition payment?
- Tuition payments can be made online using a debit or credit card at the time of registration.
- To make a tuition payment by check:
  - Make check payable to Butler University
  - Include the student’s full name and the program name “Early Childhood Educator Certificate” in the memo
  - Mail the check to:

Division of Professional Studies
4600 Sunset Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46208

What are the requirements for my Cooperative Teacher?
- Currently in a lead teaching role in an early childhood setting
- Models exemplary teaching practice
- Employed by the early childhood setting that you will be utilizing
- Willing to facilitate program-related learning in the classroom
- Ability to spend one-hour weekly on debriefing, planning, and sharing insights related to classroom experience
What happens if I am admissible, but I don’t have a Cooperative Teacher?
- If you do not have a Cooperative Teacher when you apply and you are admissible, you will be placed on a waitlist until you identify a Cooperative Teacher and their application is submitted and approved. After your Cooperative Teacher is approved, you will be admitted to the program if there is still space available.

How is the program delivered?
- All course content is delivered in an asynchronous, online format. The online course work is supported by job-embedded application.
Can I complete the online certificate at my own pace?
- Students move through the Early Childhood Educator (ECEC) program in sequence; all courses must be taken in the order defined by the program and completed on time. To maintain an effective pace, afford opportunities for growth, and allow for timely feedback, it’s important students adhere to the assignment due dates in each course.
How long will the program take to complete?
- The program takes approximately 15 months to complete.
How many courses are there?
- There are 12 courses in the certificate
How long is each course?
- Each course is delivered over four weeks. There is at least a one-week break between each course.
How many hours per week can I expect to spend on the program?
- Students can expect to spend approximately 20 hours per week on the program – this includes all required reading, course videos, assignments, class observations, and meetings with the cooperative teacher
What percentage of the program will be online vs. job-embedded?
- Students can expect approximately 80% of the program to be online content including readings, course videos, and assignments.
Who teaches the courses?
- Courses are taught by Butler University College of Education faculty.
What credential do I receive when I complete?
- Students will receive an Early Childhood Educator Certificate from Butler University.
Does the certificate transfer to a degree program at Butler University?
- Butler University is in the process of creating a pathway from the Early Childhood Educator Certificate to the Bachelor of Arts in Youth and Community Development.
Will the first cohort be eligible to pursue this pathway once it is established?
- Yes
What are the course policies?
- Course policies can be found throughout your Canvas courses. You can also view a comprehensive list of courses policies online.

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