The Early Childhood Leadership Institute (ECLI) supports the professional development needs of early childhood leaders participating in New Jersey’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, Grow NJ Kids, and other quality initiatives. ECLI has worked with regional leaders and programs since 2016 to build capacity and promote continuous professional growth through customized professional development that focuses on evaluation, coaching and training. ECLI partners with the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD) to provide supports to meet the professional development needs of early childhood leaders working within New Jersey’s Quality Rating and Improvement System and other quality initiatives, as well as Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency subsidy staff. Most recently, ECLI has worked with DFD to create the HEART of Leadership Series for center-based directors. ECLI is launching the New Jersey Early Childhood Apprenticeship Pilot Program, which is focused on expanding the number of child care staff with the Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) certification and increasing the capacity of the infant and toddler workforce across New Jersey. This successful partnership with DFD has allowed the institute to expand its scope to include additional partners such as the NJ Department of Education, NJ Department of Children and Families, The Nicholson Foundation, and the Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation

ECLI’s Professional Development Framework highlights include:

• Implementing Needs Assessments to customize professional development.
• Evaluating program impact through Introductory/Baseline, post-Orientation, and ongoing surveys utilizing state TAS Standards, in addition to PD Feedback Forms, and focus groups.
• Utilizing Implementation Science within framework.
• Providing Foundational Training as well as periodic practice-based role-specific training.
• Utilizing feedback loops.
• Employing technology to provide ongoing access to training content, resources, and a platform for collaboration.
• Facilitating communities and forums to support implementation of and sustainability of new practices and promote connections within roles and across roles.
• Supporting leaders at all levels: state staff, TA Center & CCR&R Directors, Technical Assistance Providers, and Child Care Providers.
• Offering coaching for more intense support in skill development.
• Providing opportunities for engaging in reflective practice.
• Supporting development and emerges in response to the needs and direction of organizations.
• Spearheading research and conceptualization of leadership development in early childhood education.
• Bridging training to higher education credentials (Certificate of Graduate Studies in Early Childhood in Technical Assistance and Coaching).
• Spearheading the unification of definitions of PD, Coaching, etc. and proposing state standards to support and guide those in Leadership and Management roles within their agencies.

All training topics and activities are grounded in the four pillars of capacity building in adults, leadership for change, reflective practice and culturally responsive change.

Learn more atEarly Childhood Leadership Institute's website.

 

10/6/25