who we are

The Minnesota chapter of ACCESS has long witnessed an increased need for credit-based child development courses. There is a labor shortage of qualified child care teachers. The CDA (Child Development Associate) renewal process requires applicants to complete credit-based courses. The forgivable loan program has also contributed to an increase in course enrollment. In addition, the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children has been deeply involved in establishing an early childhood career lattice. Project Teach is available in some parts of Minnesota. Recent federal mandates require that all Head Start teachers have a two-year degree by 2007. Open-enrollment higher education institutions such as Minnesota's public community and technical colleges play a critical roll in providing credit-based courses, certificates, diplomas, and degrees. To meet this need, we created E-LECT. (which stands for e-learning for early childhood teachers).

Thirteen of Minnesota's community and technical colleges have created a consortium. Member institutions include: : Alexandra Technical College, Central Lakes College, Dakota County Technical College, Hennepin Technical College, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minnesota State College – Southeast, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Northwest Technical College, Pine Technical College, Rochester Community and Technical College, St. Cloud Technical College, Saint Paul College, and South Central Technical College.. In 2002, ACCESS received a grant from the Head Start Great Lakes Quality Network funding the development on on-line courses. In 2003, the consortium received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning funding the completion of adapting and delivering all of the child development courses on-line.

E-LECT is an incredibly exciting and innovative training initiative in a number of ways. E-LECT:

• Uses technology to increase the availability of the certificate, diploma and A.A.S. and A.S. degrees to early childhood and child care teaching staff.
• Coordinates the delivery of on-line learning through a partnership among thirteen ACCESS member institutions.
• Reduces or eliminates many barriers to higher education such as distance, time, transportation, scheduling conflicts, and child care.
• Increases the access to higher education and credit-based courses.
• Increases the degree completion rate.
• Reduces the time it takes students to complete the degree.
• Increases the capacity of family child care providers, child care staff, early childhood programs, school age professionals, and Head Start grantees to utilize e-learning.
• Develop and use new and innovative ways of teaching.
• Models quality, innovation, and change in higher education.

Students will be able to complete their courses from anywhere and anytime day or night. All of the courses are lower division (freshman and sophomore level). Courses are offered over a sixteen week semester. Fall semester begins in August, Spring semester begins in January, and the eight-week Summer semester runs through June and July. To find out more about E-LECT, contact the child development instructor at one of the thirteen campuses nearest you. You may also contact Carla Weigel, coordinator of E-LECT. cweigel@hennepintech.edu