Early Childhood Learning Institute
Hello, and welcome to the Early Childhood Learning Institute, also known as the ECLI! The ECLI was formed in 2009, in response to the need for highly skilled and qualified childcare workers here in Northern Virginia. The Early Childhood Learning Institute is a professional credentialing program that is focused on systems reform in the field of early education. As a federally-backed workforce demonstration project, the ECLI provides the means and resources for low-resourced and low-income individuals to earn 31 college credits in Early Childhood Development from Northern Virginia Community College, as well as a Child Development Associate (CDA) from the Council for Professional Recognition, both of which are necessary for maintaining full-time positions at local childcare centers.
Did you know that the average annual income for a childcare worker in the United States is $22,000, without medical benefits? The ECLI program is dedicated to confronting and addressing the issue of providing living wages for childcare workers by forming local childcare center partnerships. These partnerships guarantee graduates of the Early Childhood Learning Institute full-time positions at local childcare centers at salary levels that are significantly higher than the national average ($25-$30,000, annually) with medical benefits.
Please feel free to explore ECLI Online to learn more about the program, our child care center partners, and our facilities.
For current and prospective ECLI students, click on the ECLI ‘Students’ tab where you’ll find news feeds and links to everything from Northern Virginia Community College to Blackboard.
For current and prospective Childcare Center Partners, click on the ‘Partners’ where you’ll find event and class calendars, partnership rights and responsibilities, and a linked list of all of the Early Childhood Learning Institute’s partners.
Most importantly, enjoy your visit and thank you for helping to promote early education reform. Please help us spread the word by letting others know of the work that the ECLI is doing, and encourage them to stop by our website to learn more. Meanwhile, the Early Childhood Learning Institute will continue working hard to build each child’s future, one teacher at a time.
Sincerely,
Support ECLI
We started in 2009 through a grant from the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, the Washington Area Women’s Foundation and other generous funders, and in participation with Northern Virginia Community College.
The ECLI Program needs your help to continue to provide extraordinary opportunities to low-resourced women with interests in becoming Early Childhood Educators. Donating is easy just click the link below.
If you would like to donate to the ECLI, click here.
List of Current Donors:
Washington Area Women’s Foundation
Boeing Corporation
Capital One Bank
PNC Bank