Spotlight on Career Navigation and the CEC Early College concurrent enrollment program

On September 18th our Career Navigator, Ché Walker, visited Michelle Montoya’s Education classroom at CEC Early College in Denver. Ms. Montoya has two classes of students this year that are studying both early childhood and elementary education.

Ms. Montoya with a student in ECE concurrent enrollment class

We began this cooperative relationship in 2022 in an effort to retain these students in the workforce after graduation. This was our first visit of the 2023-24 school year.

At this visit the students created Professional Development Information System (PDIS) accounts and learned how to access all the great trainings offered on the PDIS platform. Next time we will go deeper into PDIS and will add their college transcripts and external training forms. We wrap up each visit discussing the wide range of careers available in the early childhood profession.

The students in this program take part in cost-free concurrent enrollment* at Community College of Denver. They will graduate with an associate degree in education!

*What is Concurrent Enrollment?

  • A program that provides high school students with the opportunity to enroll in college courses and earn college credit at no tuition cost to them or their families (Colorado Department of Education).

What is an Early College?

  • A high school that provides a curriculum requiring each student to enroll in and complete secondary and postsecondary courses while enrolled in the four years of high school.
  • At the end of high school,  the student will have completed the requirements of a high school diploma and an associate degree or other postsecondary credential (Colorado Department of Education).

What are the benefits of Concurrent Enrollment in an Early College?

Data shows us that students in concurrent enrollment programs are more likely to:

  • Enroll in college within one year following high school graduation.
  • Complete their postsecondary education.
  • Have higher workforce earnings after postsecondary completion.

Learn more about the education program at CEC Early College.

Learn more about our Early Childhood Career Navigation program at Denver’s Early Childhood Council. Request free career navigation support for yourself or your center by reaching out to Ché Walker at che@denverearlychildhood.org.