News

The company’s director of early childhood education shares insights on empowering teachers, career advancement

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), the leading provider of online professional development for early childhood educators, announces its feature on the award-winning daily show The Balancing Act. This segment, airing on December 16 at 10 a.m. on Atlanta 69 (WUPA) and December 17 at 10:30 a.m. on The ATL (WATL), will showcase CCEI’s pivotal role in advancing early childhood education.

Hosted by Montel Williams and Olga Villaverde, The Balancing Act features informative and entertaining segments with expert guests discussing a wide range of topics from lifestyle tips to community stories.

This special segment will explore how CCEI is equipping child care professionals with training for career advancement. Melissa Thomas, director of early childhood education at CCEI, was interviewed highlighting the importance of CCEI’s offerings in a sector where the demand for skilled teachers is skyrocketing.

“Our research-backed training gives teachers the skills they need to excel and progress in their careers,” says Thomas. “With the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a nearly 20% increase in preschool teacher jobs over the next decade, CCEI’s role becomes even more pivotal.”

This growth can be attributed to several factors, including increasing awareness among parents about the benefits of early education and population growth, necessitating more educators in this field. CCEI stands at the forefront of addressing this need by providing a flexible solution for educators balancing career and family responsibilities, helping them meet professional development goals.

“CCEI’s accredited child care courses offer a viable solution for students with busy schedules who cannot attend traditional in-person trainings,” says Jeff Mutimer, chief growth officer at StraighterLine. “We provide a pathway for our students, enabling them to reach their full potential and career objectives.”

Earlier this year, CCEI and its parent company, StraighterLine, unveiled a groundbreaking partnership specifically designed to provide early childhood educators with a streamlined pathway that connects state-required professional development hours directly to earning a college degree.

CCEI specializes in providing online child care training and certificates, child care registry development and administrative solutions for the early care and education industry. To date, early childhood educators have completed more than 9,883,000 professional development hours and over 53,000 have graduated from CCEI’s CDA and other certification programs.

For more information about CCEI, visit: cceionline.com/.

About ChildCare Education Institute

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), a StraighterLine Company, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. CCEI offers 200+ online child care training courses in English and Spanish to meet licensing, recognition program and Head Start requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, an approved partner of the Council for Professional Recognition, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). For more information, visit: cceionline.com/.

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, is pleased to introduce its newest course, ADM118: Creating an Operational Budget for a Child Care Center.

There are thousands of outstanding child care centers in the United States. Many of them are financially healthy, and some are highly profitable. However, achieving and maintaining financial stability can be a challenge for child care providers.

Center directors, along with owners or board members, are often forced to make difficult choices as the desire to meet specific objectives competes with financial realities. Therefore, before creating a budget, all stakeholders in the center need to identify priorities related to the center′s philosophy, goals around quality, curriculum, and other services. These should drive the budget, not the other way around.

“This course will provide owners and administrators a good sense of why budgets are important, the kinds of expenses child care programs need to cover, and the sources of revenue upon which centers rely for covering costs and for some making a profit,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director for CCEI.  “There are many things to consider, and it is vital to work with a team to ensure budget decisions do not impact the program′s mission.”

This course defines the purpose of a budget, discusses key aspects of fiscal responsibility, and the process of developing an operating budget. Participants will learn about the types of expenses that are common in child care programs, as well as strategies for increasing revenue and setting budget priorities. This course also provides tips and advice on building a budget team and practical tools, including a budget worksheet and formulas for estimating various budget items.

ADM118: Creating an Operational Budget for a Child Care Center is a three-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.3 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information on these courses, as well as CCEI’s entire catalog of 200+ offerings, click here or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

About ChildCare Education Institute, a StraighterLine Company

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and as an IACET Accredited Provider, offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Visit www.cceionline.com for more information.

ChildCare Education Institute^® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers CCEI980: Customer Service for the Center Administrator as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users August 1-31, 2023.

A child care program that fails to provide good customer service is not likely to enjoy much success. Without good customer service, a program′s leader is likely to spend most of their time worrying about finding new customers to replace the ones who keep leaving to enroll with the competition.  By putting a good customer service program in place, owners and administrators can avoid many common problems before they arise.

If customer service is a priority and follows certain basic customer service principles, then leaders will rarely see an angry parent in the program.  More importantly, programs can gain an advantage over competitors. That’s because good customer service is one trait that separates top-quality programs from mediocre ones. Parents and family members notice good service, they appreciate it, and they realize that sometimes it can be hard to find in the child care industry.

This course examines practical tips for excellent customer service methods in child care programs and provides strategies for training staff in client service. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to define customer service, identify guidelines for excellent customer relations, and identify strategies for implementing customer service methods in a child care program.

“Leaders and staff should develop a solid customer service plan and do as much as possible to prevent problems from arising,” says Leslie Coleman Education Director of CCEI.  “By taking this course, ECE owners and administrators will learn how to develop a customer service strategy that focuses on providing the level of customer service that earns the program a good reputation and boosts student enrollment.”

CCEI980: Customer Service for the Center Administrator is a one-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.1 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account.  Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

About ChildCare Education Institute, A StraighterLine Company

ChildCare Education Institute®, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and as an IACET Accredited Provider, offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Visit www.cceionline.com for more information.

ChildCare Education Institute^® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers CUR134: An Introduction to Learning Stories as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users July 1-31, 2023.

A Learning Story is a record of what a caregiver has observed about a child or group of children.  Learning Stories can use text, images, or videos in any combination. They usually focus on a specific moment in time but may also include an accumulation of a child′s experiences over an extended period. They can also focus on a group experience or a moment when children were engaged in learning experiences together.

Learning Stories highlight children′s thinking skills, approaches to learning, and dispositions.  Dispositions are described as characteristics or attitudes toward learning that children demonstrate.  The retelling of an event becomes a Learning Story when the teacher adds their perspective or feedback about the child′s learning and development. This might include a description of the concrete skills the child demonstrated or a more theoretical perspective such as the child′s approach to learning.

Learning Stories help teachers connect to the aspects of early education that bring them joy and fulfillment. Using Learning Stories can also help teachers nurture their love of teaching.  The first-person format makes the documentation personal. The narrative format gives educators a chance to share their feelings about the steps in a child′s unique developmental journey.  Rather than spending time identifying what children cannot do, teachers focus on documenting children′s success stories. This focus on success creates a positive mindset for both the children and the teacher.  Reviewing Learning Stories with children helps teachers build emotional connections with children, which creates a nurturing, curious, and supportive learning environment.

This course will introduce participants to Learning Stories, a powerful assessment tool in early childhood education. When fully embraced by educators, directors, and families, Learning Stories are a transformative approach to assessment. They deepen connections between teachers, families, children, and the broader community. Participants will discover the essential components of Learning Stories and how to develop each component.

“Learning Stories create an understanding of both children and adults in a way that promotes further discussion and ongoing learning,” says Leslie Coleman Education Director of CCEI.  “They provide educators with a chance to share ideas, plan for future learning, and reflect on their practice.”

CUR134: An Introduction to Learning Stories is a two-hour, intermediate-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account.  Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

About ChildCare Education Institute, A StraighterLine Company

ChildCare Education Institute®, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and as an IACET Accredited Provider, offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Visit www.cceionline.com for more information.

ChildCare Education Institute^® (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers SPN107: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users June 1-30, 2023.

For a child care provider, the effects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the classroom can be quite obvious.  The term ADD is no longer used by medical professionals. However, it is sometimes used colloquially to refer to someone who has difficulty staying focused but does not experience symptoms of hyperactivity.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 6.1 million children ages 2-17 are diagnosed with ADHD in the United States. This number includes 388,000 children between the ages of 2-5 who have received a diagnosis of ADHD.

Teachers should take time to reflect on the behaviors they are observing and attempt to find appropriate outlets for the needs being communicated by the children.  Keep in mind that what works for one child with ADHD may not work for every child with ADHD. Children come from different backgrounds and motivations. Part of a teacher′s job is to find out the best way to motivate each child to succeed and become a better learner.

This course presents basic facts about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including characteristics of children diagnosed with ADHD, recommended classroom accommodations, and strategies to support adults with ADHD.  Most researchers agree that both genetics and environmental factors most likely cause ADHD.  Child care providers and families need to take note of these connections, especially if the child has been labeled as a behavior problem or lazy and persistent. These negative labels can be very dangerous to the child′s overall mental health.  Instead, small accomplishments must be recognized and rewarded. Children should receive positive, individualized attention whenever possible.

Teachers should never diagnose a child or use language related to a specific diagnosis unless the child has been formally diagnosed. The teacher′s role is to share observations and information about the child′s development with families. Teachers can also provide information about early intervention services, which families can use to schedule an evaluation for their child. However, the child care provider does play an important role in observing and providing information about the child′s performance and behavior.

“Recent decades have seen dramatic increases in diagnosis rates for ADHD and other early childhood disorders,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director for CCEI. “Early childhood professionals must implement strategies and apply specialized knowledge to meet all children’s individual needs.”

SPN107: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a two-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion. Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

About ChildCare Education Institute, A StraighterLine Company

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and as an IACET Accredited Provider, offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.

StraighterLine’s “starter pack” for careers in early childhood education helps aspiring educators gain new skills, earn academic credit toward a college degree

StraighterLine, a creator of affordable, flexible and career-aligned postsecondary courses and credentials, today announced the launch of five new courses designed to create a more accessible pathway to a college degree for early childhood education professionals working to complete their state-required certification.

“The nation’s early care and education programs are not only vital for the development of our youngest learners, but integral to our country’s economic success given the millions of working parents with children under age five,” said Heather Combs, CEO of StraighterLine. “This is about helping to bolster the early childhood workforce, while creating a pathway to upward mobility in a sector that has such a profound impact on adult learners, parents, employers and communities.”

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated staffing challenges, the nation’s childcare programs had long struggled with a shortage of qualified early childhood education and care professionals and high turnover rates. A 2021 study from the National Association for the Education of Young Children found that half of childcare providers were serving fewer children as a result of hiring challenges. According to fall 2022 data from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, childcare employment is still down more than 8% since the start of the pandemic.

StraighterLine will launch the first three new courses on May 22 including “Foundations of Early Childhood Education,” “Early Childhood Development” and “Teaching Students with Exceptionalities.”  In June, StraighterLine will launch two additional courses, “Classroom Management” and “Language and Literacy.” These five courses are designed to help educators take the next step in their careers and closer to earning a college degree and increasing their earning power in the teaching profession. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the average starting salary for an early childhood educator with only a high school diploma or GED is under $30,000. The starting salary for a head teacher with an associate’s degree is just over $40,000. And the starting salary for a kindergarten teacher with a bachelor’s degree is a little over $50,000.

Each course will be credit bearing and transferable, enabling students who are continuing their education to apply credit toward earning an associates or bachelors degree at one of the 2,000+ colleges and universities that accept StraighterLine credits for transfer.

In collaboration with StraighterLine’s subsidiary company ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), students will also be able to complete the training hours required to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential as part of a stackable pathway.

Dr. Chrystine Mitchell, an associate professor of education at Alvernia University who teaches courses on early childhood education helped develop the curriculum as one of StraighterLine’s faculty consultants.

“As our sector continues to grapple with a nationwide shortage of talent, investing in training and career advancement opportunities for early career educators is critical for making the field a more attractive and sustainable career choice,” said Mitchell. “By bridging the divide between certification and the degree, we can make careers in early childhood education more accessible for educators who are passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of infants, toddlers and young children.”

StraighterLine acquired CCEI in 2022 with the goal of expanding its course offerings beyond general education courses, and providing training and credentials for early childhood education professionals. The launch of the new early childhood education pathway is the latest in StraighterLine’s recent expansion into offering career-aligned courses and certificates, in addition to its well-known suite of general education college courses.

To learn more about StraighterLine’s new early childhood education course offerings, visit https://offers.cceionline.com/earlychildcare.

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About StraighterLine: StraighterLine is the leading provider of high-quality, affordable, online courses that help learners earn college credit and meet their professional goals. Each year, 150,000 learners take one of StraighterLine’s 215 courses to upskill into new careers or earn credit from over 2,000 colleges and universities worldwide. StraighterLine works with institutions and corporate partners to provide their students and employees with flexible education options that allow them to work and learn at their own pace. Visit https://www.straighterline.com for more information.

About ChildCare Education Institute, A StraighterLine Company: ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and as an IACET Accredited Provider, offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Visit www.cceionline.com for more information.

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, is pleased to introduce its newest course, PROF110: Family-Teacher Conferences.

Family-teacher conferences are essential for maintaining an effective educational program. Research has shown time and time again that family involvement is one of the critical factors in a child’s school success. For many families, the family-teacher conference is a valuable time to connect with the teacher and classroom, other than brief interactions during drop-off and pick-up.

Family-teacher conferences provide an opportunity for families to share their expectations and better understand the teacher′s practices and goals. For the teacher understanding the family′s expectations and the child′s home culture makes it easier for the teacher to adjust the curriculum to make it more culturally relevant for the child.  In the end, families and teachers must be flexible and keep the child′s best interests in mind. Often, teachers can improve the effectiveness of their program for everyone by incorporating aspects of the home culture of different children into the curriculum.

“Families and teachers can learn a lot by sharing and comparing their viewpoints,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director for CCEI.  “Ultimately, this exchange benefits the child, as teachers and families gain valuable information and can adjust child-rearing and teaching styles to help meet the child′s specific needs.”

Well-managed family-teacher conferences strengthen essential partnerships between teachers and families that ultimately benefit our youngest learners. In this course, participants will learn the primary goals of family-teacher conferences along with strategies associated with planning for, conducting, and following up after conferences. In addition, the course will cover recommended practices for sharing assessment results with families, including when and how to make referrals to early intervention agencies.

PROF110: Family-Teacher Conferences is a two-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information on these courses, as well as CCEI’s entire catalog of 200+ offerings, click here or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

About ChildCare Education Institute, a StraighterLine Company

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and as an IACET Accredited Provider, offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Visit www.cceionline.com for more information.

ChildCare Education Institute^® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers CCEI900: Safety in the Infant/Toddler Classroom as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users May 1-31, 2023.

Each year, about 31,000 children aged four and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries sustained in child care settings. Although accidents do happen, following safety regulations and precautions will reduce the number of injuries to children.  Believe it or not, there is a potential for injury during every phase of the day in the infant/toddler classroom, from feeding and playing to sleeping and diapering. Unfortunately, many of the injuries that occur in child care settings each year could have been prevented fairly easily. By the end of this course, you will be aware of the basic safety practices to use when caring for infants or toddlers.

As an infant/toddler caregiver, you cannot prevent all of life′s bumps and bruises. However, you do have a responsibility to take steps to prevent injuries by establishing safety-related policies and practices and setting up a well-designed classroom environment. Unfortunately, each year thousands of children are injured in child care centers because their caregivers did not follow proper safety procedures or take the proper precautions. This course will cover a variety of safety-related practices and procedures designed to keep children safe and decrease the number of injuries as much as possible.

This course presents practices and recommendations for preventing injuries and reducing unnecessary hazards in the indoor child care setting. Participants will learn about various indoor health and safety risks, safe feeding and diapering practices, and the appropriate use of various equipment and materials in the early childhood environment.

“Minor bumps, bruises, scrapes, and sores are part of life, especially for infants and toddlers as they learn to move and navigate through their environments,” says says Leslie Coleman, Education Director of CCEI.  “Even if you have been providing warm and loving care to infants for many years, it’s always good to refresh your knowledge.”

CCEI900: Safety in the Infant/Toddler Classroom is a one-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.1 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

About ChildCare Education Institute, A StraighterLine Company

ChildCare Education Institute®, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and as an IACET Accredited Provider, offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Visit www.cceionline.com for more information.

Big Blue Marble Academy (BBMA) has partnered with StraighterLine and ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) to offer the BBMA Pathways Program, providing an accessible professional development and education benefit for early childhood learning professionals. The program aims to help train the next generation of lead teachers and administrators by offering scholarship funds for BBMA employees to pursue a Child Development Associate ® (CDA) certification or a college degree.

BBMA Scholars who want to pursue a college degree may choose from over 60 StraighterLine courses, which can be transferred to a degree program of their choice. The program’s preferred education pathway partners include American College of Education, Purdue University Global and Northeast Lakeview College. Students may also transfer their credits to one of StraighterLine’s 150+ accredited colleges and universities partners that guarantee credit transfer.

“At Big Blue Marble Academy we are committed to providing children the opportunity to reach their highest potential, and we want the same for our employees,” said Jeff Wahl, CEO of Big Blue Marble Academy. “We are proud to partner with StraighterLine and CCEI in offering this exciting opportunity for our employees to further their education and advance in their careers.”

One of the benefits of taking online courses through StraighterLine is the ability for students to work at their own pace with no homework deadlines, giving them the flexibility they need to succeed. In addition, students who take courses through StraighterLine receive wraparound student support including free eTextbooks, live student support, and 24/7 free on-demand tutoring and writing help online.

BBMA employees also have the opportunity to pursue a Child Development Associate ® (CDA) certification through CCEI, a StraighterLine company. Through the credential training program employees can build a professional foundation and strengthen their skills to prepare for a career in early childhood education. The CCEI CDA certificate program of study aligns to the CDA credentialing process as established by the Council for Professional Recognition.

“With a nationwide teacher shortage, the need to train future educators is great, but for those working in early childhood education, it can be difficult to find the time and money to go back to school to earn additional credentials or obtain a degree,” said Dr. Amy Smith, Chief Learning Officer for StraighterLine. “Big Blue Marble Academy is to be commended for stepping up in a major way to support their employees with an affordable and flexible way to achieve their career goals.”

For more information about the Big Blue Marble Academy pathway program, email bbmascholars@straighterline.com.

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About Big Blue Marble Academy

Big Blue Marble Academy operates 48 schools providing early care, preschool, after-school care, and summer camp for children ages six weeks to twelve years. BBMA nurtures little minds through a robust preschool curriculum that ensures children are developmentally, socially, and emotionally prepared for kindergarten and beyond. Its emphasis on global awareness and character development teaches children invaluable lessons, growing big hearts that are ready and eager to take on the world.  Visit www.bbmacademy.com for more information.

About StraighterLine

StraighterLine is the leading provider of high-quality, affordable, online courses that help learners earn college credit and meet their professional goals. Each year, 150,000 learners take one of StraighterLine’s 215 courses to upskill into new careers or earn credit from over 2,000 colleges and universities worldwide. StraighterLine works with institutions and corporate partners to provide their students and employees with flexible education options that allow them to work and learn at their own pace. Visit www.straighterline.com for more information.

About ChildCare Education Institute, A StraighterLine Company

ChildCare Education Institute®, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).  Visit www.cceionline.com for more information.

ChildCare Education Institute^® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers PROF107: Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users April 1-30, 2023.

In this era of “MeToo” and “Time’s Up”, people are becoming increasingly aware of institutionalized sexual harassment. While these two movements helped bring women’s struggles in the workplace to the forefront of people’s thoughts, neither movement pioneered sexual harassment awareness.  The “MeToo” and “Time’s Up” movements brought to light a huge gap in people’s understanding of what exactly is considered sexual harassment. Many things that previously may have been considered commonplace or acceptable are now understood to be inappropriate and a violation of policies against workplace sexual harassment.

There are two forms of unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace. They are quid pro quo and hostile work environment.  Quid pro quo is the most universally recognized form of sexual harassment, however, a hostile work environment occurs the most, often going unreported. This is due to the fact that quid pro quo harassment often feels easier to prove in the eyes of the law, where people may find justifications for actions that create a hostile work environment.

While sexual harassment has two categories under the law, there are five types of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment. They are gender harassment, seductive behavior, sexual bribery or favoritism, sexual coercion, and sexual imposition.  When it comes to conduct that violates policies against workplace sexual harassment, it doesn’t just end at face-to-face interactions. Electronic sexual harassment is becoming increasingly common as technology grows, it currently includes emails, cell phone calls or texts, internet or intranet posts, online comments, blog posts, and social media

This course is designed to help early childhood education staff to better understand conduct that will violate policies against workplace harassment. Participants will learn what sexual harassment is, what some of the laws are, what to do if they feel they are being harassed or witness harassment, and how to prevent such conduct from occurring.

“Sexual harassment affects everyone involved: the victim, the harasser, and the company,” says says Leslie Coleman, Education Director of CCEI.  “Employees need to be trained in what sexual harassment is, how to avoid it, and how to report it.”

PROF107: Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace is a one-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.1 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute®, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).