The money will be used to facilitate a consortium of institutions of higher education, and to influence state policy reform, to dismantle barriers in Colorado’s early educator preparation system.
Today, the Early Educator Investment Collaborative (EEIC) announced it has awarded the University of Colorado Denver School of Education & Human Development $2.33 million for its commitment to transform its early childhood teacher preparation. The university joins five other grantees that have established partnerships between institutions of higher education (IHE), states or Tribal Nations that will bolster early educator preparation programs, bring greater coherence to teacher preparation policy, break down systemic barriers to education for people of color, and increase financial assistance and compensation for students studying to be early educators.
With the funds, CU Denver will facilitate a consortium of IHEs in Colorado that fosters systems to address access to quality degrees, engages in research related to early care and education (ECE) workforce preparation, and influences policy change within and across multiple state agencies specific to teacher credentialing and licensure, credit transfer, credit for prior learning, and compensation.