Early Childhood Center Planning
and Leadership

Category: Rules Regulating Child Care Facilities, Program Licensing, and Support

ECCPL 1.1 

A. Locates and demonstrates familiarity of the Colorado General Rules for Child Care Facilities and Rules Regulating Child Care Centers That Provide Less than 24-Hour Care (Colorado Rules and Regulations).

B. Identifies the types of child care facilities and applicable rules and regulations by facility type and ages of children.

C. Describes the center licensing application process, changes requiring a new application, and defines governing body. See competency ECCOBA 7.1 E to determine when a business license is also needed.

D. Describes the function of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood Provider Hub. 

ECCPL 2.1

A. Describes the function of the Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) - Colorado Department of Early Childhood, role of the licensing specialist, inspection process, and how to identify licensing specialists assigned to child care facilities by county and zip code (caseload assignment list).

B. Describes the functions of the Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System (PDIS) , how it is used by licensing specialists during the inspection process, identifies the different roles center administrators may have on the system, functionality available to directors, and locates navigation guides.

ECCPL 3.1

A. Identifies and explains the purpose and function of various support organizations for establishing and maintaining an early childhood care center.  These may include but are not limited to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado Early Childhood Councils, shared services programs, small business development centers, federal supports, and specialized consultants. 

Category: Planning to Establish and Maintain an Early Childhood Care Center

ECCPL 4.1

A. Explains purpose of a business plan and its components. 

B. Defines strategic planning, identifies strategic planning models and their components to include but not limited to  vision, mission, goals, objectives, and situational (SWOT) analysis.

C. Identifies similarities and differences between business plan and strategic plan. 

ECCPL 5.1

A. Defines the meaning of stakeholder, identifies types of stakeholders important to early childhood programs, and describes importance of stakeholder equity, diversity, and inclusion as representative of the families, children, and neighborhood served by the program.

B. Describes ways to build stakeholder relationships to include components of a stakeholder outreach plan.

C. Explains purpose and  benefits of establishing a board of directors and/or an advisory board composed of stakeholders.

Category: Leadership and Work Environment

ECCPL 6.1 

A. Defines leadership and describes the role it plays in strategic plan implementation, daily operations, and business administration.

B. Names and describes leadership styles to include benefits and drawbacks of each. 

C. Identifies own leadership style through use of an assessment tool.

ECCPL 7.1

A. Describes facilitative and collaborative leadership styles and how these styles may benefit early childhood programs in promoting a positive and empowering work environment. 

ECCPL 8.1

A. Names characteristics of and describes a positive and supportive work environment. 

B. Defines meaning and types of workplace culture. 

C. Describes how leadership style affects workplace culture. 

D.  Identifies practices that support effective internal communication, conflict resolution strategies, and teaming. 

ECCPL 9.1

A. Describes and explains the need for collaboration among staff, respectful internal and external communication, and confidentiality of community stakeholders, staff, children, families, and volunteer information.

ECCPL 10.1

A. Defines diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and linguistically and culturally responsive practice to include describing the value of supporting these ideals.

B. Reflects on own culture and  unconscious bias. 

C. Identifies strategies to promote and respect DEI throughout an early childhood care program. 

ECCPL 11.1

A. Locates and summarizes NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment describing application throughout early childhood program components.

Category: Quality Improvement

ECCPL 12.1

A. Identifies and describes components of state and national standards that promote continuous quality improvement to include identifying research-based program observation and evaluation tools that assess the process quality of a program and the administration of a program. (ex. Environment Rating Scales, Program Administration Scale, etc.). 

B. Locates and describes Colorado Shines Quality Rating and  Improvement System (QRIS)  and/or other alternative quality improvement frameworks.

C. Identifies quality improvement supportive resources such as local early childhood councils, quality improvement navigators, and funding resources. 

Category: Rules Regulating Child Care Facilities, Program Licensing, and Support

ECCPL 1.2

A. Applies and abides by Colorado Rules and Regulations by child care facility type in the licensing application for and operation of a child care center.

B. Locates and utilizes the Colorado Department of Early Childhood Provider Hub for its various functions. 

ECCPL 2.2

A.  Identifies the licensing specialist assigned to a child care facility and establishes a working relationship 

B. Utilizes the various functions of the PDIS on a regular basis to support the inspection process and keep current the verification of employees. 

ECCPL 3.2

A. Locates the websites of various support organizations, identifies the resources available, and engages in support opportunities as needed and appropriate.

B. Signs-up to receive Colorado Department of Early Childhood updates.

Category: Planning to Establish and Maintain an Early Childhood Care Center

ECCPL 4.2

A. Works with stakeholders to develop a business plan, if necessary, for the establishment and maintenance of the center and initiates the process.

B. Facilitates the program strategic planning process and development of a strategic plan with input from key stakeholders using relevant data when possible. 

C. Participates in identifying stakeholder roles and duties in developing a business plan and/or strategic plan.

See competency ECCPL 5.1 A for information on stakeholders

ECCPL 5.2

A. Identifies relevant stakeholders of the early childhood program, ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion representative of families, children, and neighborhood served.

B. Applies knowledge of building stakeholder relationships to create and implement a stakeholder outreach plan.

C. Works with the governing body to establish a board of directors and/or advisory board. 

Category: Leadership and Work Environment

ECCPL 6.2

A. Applies knowledge of leadership style to implement program strategic plans, manage daily operations, and business administration. 

ECCPL 7.2

A. Applies leadership techniques to facilitate effective and collaborative teamwork among administrators, staff, substitutes, volunteers, and other key stakeholders that is inclusive, anti-racist/anti-bias and culturally and linguistically responsive.

ECCPL 8.2

A. Applies knowledge of a positive work environment and culture to create and implement policies, procedures, and processes that create a positive, motivating, supportive, and welcoming anti-racist/anti-bias and culturally responsive work environment. Includes practices which support effective communication, conflict resolution strategies, and teaming.

ECCPL 9.2

A. Plans and monitors practices that demonstrate collaboration among staff, respectful internal and external communication, and confidentiality of community stakeholders, staff, families, and volunteers. 

ECCPL 10.2

A. Works with key stakeholders to develop and implement strategies ensuring the authentic promotion and embedding of  DEI policies and practices throughout the program and to ensure the program is culturally and linguistically responsive to the families and community it serves.

ECCPL 11.2

A. Plans and implements guidelines that support ethical and professional conduct in the workplace according to NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment; oversees ethical dilemmas to determine appropriate course of action. 

Category: Quality Improvement

ECCPL 12.2

A. Applies knowledge of quality improvement to plan for embedded continuous quality improvement efforts including program assessment, evaluation, and  improvement activity plans.  Plan includes gaining input from families, program staff, and other stakeholders and to engage with quality improvement supportive resources.

Category: Rules Regulating Child Care Facilities, Program Licensing, and Support

ECCPL 1.3

A. Reviews and evaluates application of Colorado Rules and Regulations by child care facility type in the operation of a child care center on at least an annual or more frequent basis as necessary. 

ECCPL 2.3

A. Establishes a regular, at least annual if not more frequent, check-in with the licensing specialist to review, discuss, and analyze licensing and compliance needs. 

B. Reviews and maintains verification status of employees on at least an annual basis if not more frequently or as required.

ECCPL 3.3

A. Reviews and evaluates engagement opportunities with support organizations on at least an annual basis to note any updates in resources, guidelines or rules and makes appropriate adjustments to the early childhood program or modifies engagement as necessary. 

Category: Planning to Establish and Maintain an Early Childhood Care Center

ECCPL 4.3

A. Works with stakeholders to determine if the business plan needs updating. 

B. Leads and monitors implementation of strategic plan to include identifying areas where support is needed and reviewing the plan with key stakeholders on at least an annual basis adjusting as necessary.

C. Analyzes stakeholder roles and duties adjusting as necessary. 

ECCPL 5.3

A. Reviews and analyzes stakeholder representation and effectiveness on at least an annual basis adjusting as necessary.

B. Evaluates stakeholder outreach plan on at least an annual basis adjusting  as necessary.

Category: Leadership and Work Environment

ECCPL 6.3

A. Evaluates leadership strengths and areas of needed improvement through utilization of various tools to determine steps to improve leadership on at least an annual basis. 

ECCPL 7.3

A. Gathers and reflects on staff and stakeholder input concerning collaborative teamwork implementation on at least an annual basis making changes as needed. 

ECCPL 8.3

A. Monitors work environment, gathers feedback from staff, and addresses any conflicts or issues. 

ECCPL 9.3

A. Designs and/or provides training on confidentiality, collaboration among staff, and respectful internal and external communication as needed. 

ECCPL 10.3

A. Conducts DEI audits annually or more frequently and adjusts strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure the program authentically promotes DEI and is culturally and linguistically  responsive to the families and community it serves.

ECCPL 11.3

A. Annually reviews plans and guidelines that support ethical and professional conduct in the workplace. Provides enhanced training opportunities to support ethical and professional conduct as necessary.

Category: Quality Improvement

ECCPL 12.3

A. Utilizes evaluation data to create an improvement plan, in cooperation with stakeholders, and make positive changes to program design, policies, administration, and family/community engagement. Maintains awareness of potential funding support from state quality initiatives and non-profits.