Lobbying and Advocacy

We have a paid lobbyist who works to support the industry through legislative advocacy work. We also advocate with the state regarding any advocacy needs that arise in the industry. We are a solutions-based organization and strive to improve processes and services for providers throughout the industry.

Industry Trainings

ECEA provides free trainings for business owners ranging from classroom management techniques/supports to the fiscal management that sustains businesses. Our trainings are free to anyone, but members receive training certificates for attending the live sessions.

Feedback Friday

The final Friday of every month, child care providers can meet raise any questions/concerns that they have about the industry. It’s an informal conversation that keeps ECEA aware of advocacy needs.

Professional Learning Center

Continuing education programs for early learning professionals, including the Child Development Associate, Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood, and MA in Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences offered in partnership with University of Colorado Denver.

Annual CMA Conference (April 2020) – Raising Equity

Raising Equity means being an adult in the life of a child who helps cultivate and equity mindset. This approach helps adults and children understand themselves, others, and the systems of oppression that impact our lives. In this session, participants will 1) gain an understanding of the concepts and distinctions between diversity, equity, and inclusion, … Read more >

The Validation Project

The CMA Validation Project is one answer to the question “What is Montessori?” By determining baseline, threshold components for participating Montessori schools, CMA has established a Validating Organization to assure state agencies, policy makers, funders, and most importantly, families that the Montessori schools in Colorado have a measure of quality they can trust.

Kids Play Math

Support for teachers, including classroom activities and information about early math teaching and learning. This information is provided through easily accessible online training components, with job-embedded assignments, and webinars. An accompanying workshop in instructional support (optional but recommended). Support for coaches via a certification package that includes a two-day workshop, online interaction, and materials and … Read more >

Motheread/Fatheread Colorado

Motheread/Fatheread Colorado Through MFC, trained facilitators provide a series of sessions to the parents of children from birth through third grade. Each lesson in the 29-lesson curriculum uses children’s books and adult poems and narratives to develop parents and children’s literacy skills. After participating in MFC, parents report that children exhibit more interest in rhyme, … Read more >

Membership Support and Technical Assistance

ECCLA’s goal is to ensure that Councils have sufficient resources, staff, and capacity to implement their strategic plans so the needs of the young children in the communities they serve can be met. We are prioritizing our efforts to support the integrity and sustainability of this statewide network. To achieve our goal, we deploy key … Read more >

Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) Partnership

ECHO is based on a decade of research by North Carolina State University’s Natural Learning Initiative on the Preventing Obesity by Design model. This research showed that by improving the design of outdoor spaces through affordable interventions and training early childhood professionals, young children and early childhood programs enjoy substantial benefits. Together, ECHO and ECCLA … Read more >