Foundations for teaching and learning
Learn More About KEDC’s Rank Change Program
Learn about KEDC’s low-cost alternative to earning advanced degrees including the program benefits, how it works, timeline for completion, and frequently asked questions. If you are looking for additional information, you can sign up to speak with a program expert.
Program Benefits
Low-Cost with Deferment
Salary Advancement
Job-Embedded Learning
Personalized Pathways
Financial Incentives
Kentucky Administrative Regulations now state that districts can develop their own Continuing Education Option for licensure rank change and certificate renewal. KEDC’s continuing education program has been approved for advancement to Rank II or Rank I.
Use the salary calculator on the right to see how earning a rank change will impact your salary.
Salary Calculator
Program Structure & Supports
This Foundations in Teaching and Learning program is offered by KEDC, in partnership with BloomBoard. Founded in 2010, BloomBoard is the leading platform for educator advancement via micro-credentials. Our platform enables educators to earn micro-credentials by demonstrating competence in one specific skill at a time using a portfolio of evidence. Micro-credentials can be grouped together into micro-endorsements to offer educators tailored routes to improve their instructional practice, and qualify for rank change and compensation acceleration.
The program requires educators to complete 12 Foundations micro-credentials, 6 personalized micro-credentials that educators can select based on personal interests and a final Capstone Project. Micro-credentials are job-embedded, meaning the learning is integrated into classroom practice and there are no traditional university-like classes or exams. Micro-credentials are also self-paced learning experiences, which allows flexibility for you to progress as your schedule allows.
KEDC and BloomBoard will provide regularly scheduled collaborative learning community sessions for each micro-credential, led by a certified facilitator.
Orientation
Once you’ve completed enrollment, you’ll be invited to a kickoff orientation with your program facilitator/coach and other educators in your cohort.
Success Academy
Following the orientation, attend KEDC/BloomBoard Success Academy to help support the first micro-credential submission.
1:1 Coaching
BloomBoard coaches are available for personalized 1:1 support during the program.
Asynchronous Discussions
Throughout the program, you can communicate with your coach and other educators in your cohort through the BloomBoard platform.
Sample Program Timeline
The program is flexible and allows you to work at your own pace. It is a micro-credential-based program and as such, much of the work is job-embedded and requires you to have access to students.
Per the requirements of CEO Option II regulation, the minimum amount of time you can complete the program is 12 months while the maximum time to complete is four years. Below is a sample timeline and micro-credential sequencing. See the program guide for more examples.
- Year 1: Educator will complete eight of the 12 micro-credentials required in the Foundations micro-endorsement.
- Year 2: Educator will complete the remaining four micro-credentials required in the Foundations Micro-endorsement and one of the two personalized micro-endorsements selected in the program.
- Year 3: Educator will complete the second personalized micro-endorsement selected in the program and their Capstone Project.
Program Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Title Goes Here
What is the CEO Option?
To support districts in offering their teachers a CEO and ensuring all requirements are met, the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) has developed a new low-cost continuing education framework that has been approved by the EPSB and qualifies teachers for advancement to Rank II or Rank I. This micro-credential based program was developed in partnership with BloomBoard, the leading platform for micro-credentialing.
Is this a certification on my license?
How much does the program cost?
The total cost of the program is $6,050. The cost can be paid upfront or BloomBoard offers flexible financing options that (upon approval) may provide educators with the opportunity to defer payment until your salary increase goes into effect.
How does the financing work?
Just like with any loan, you must first complete an application with our partners at Climb to get pre-approved. Once approved, Climb will provide you with various financing options and you can select the one that best meets your needs. Upon completion of the process your BloomBoard account will be created and you can begin the program.
What is the time commitment for completing the program?
The program is flexible and allows you to work at your own pace. It is a micro-credential based program and as such, much of the work is job-embedded and requires you to have access to students. The minimum amount of time it will take to complete is 12 months while the maximum time to complete is four years.
Are there any program supports?
Yes. The program includes a number of supports, including:
- Upfront Orientation and Support PLC Sessions -As you begin your journey, our goal is to set you up for success. BloomBoard will lead an orientation and PLC sessions to guide you through the micro-credentials.
- Collaboration with Peers – When you start the program you will be part of a cohort of teachers. As you work through the micro-credentials you will be able to connect with these teachers through the BloomBoard platform and during your PLC sessions.
- Support from a Coach/Facilitator – Each cohort of teachers has an assigned facilitator and coach to support you as you work through the micro-credentials.
- Access to Resources – Each of the micro-credentials in the program includes relevant resources to help you successfully earn the micro-credential.
Once I obtain financing or pay by credit card, what happens next?
If you applied for financing and are approved, below are the next steps and estimated timing:
- Once you receive your approved offer for financing, you will need to accept and follow the process as provided by the lender. This can take 1-4 days to complete.
- Once you have accepted the offer, there is a four day rescission period which allows you to back out or cancel the loan if needed.
- Once you have passed the rescission period, within five business days you will receive an email with instructions for accessing your program and details on orientation to begin work. This will include pre-orientation activities to prepare, dates of orientation and BloomBoard Learning Community support sessions, and an introduction to your coach.
If you paid via credit card:
- There is a four day rescission period which allows you to back out of the program if needed.
- Once you have passed the rescission period, within five business days you will receive an email with instructions for accessing your program and details on orientation to begin work. This will include pre-orientation activities to prepare, dates of orientation and BloomBoard Learning Community support sessions, and an introduction to your coach.
How do I get started?
If you still have questions about the program, click the “Talk to an expert” button below to schedule time with one of our program experts.
If you are ready to secure your spot in our next cohort, click the “Get Started” button to begin the financing process or pay by credit card.
Terms & Conditions
- The Referral Promotion: BloomBoard wishes to offer a reward to educators who are enrolled in (or in the process of enrolling in) the BloomBoard-KEDC Rank II Pathway Program (the “Program”) and who refer other educators to BloomBoard to enroll in the Program (“Referrers”). Referrers may be eligible to receive Visa gift cards in the amount of $100 for every Qualified Referral (“Referral Rewards”). A Qualified Referral is a person who actively enrolls in the Program and designates the Referrer as the referring party on the Program Enrollment Form on the BloomBoard website at https://bloomboard.com/program/kedc-continuing-education/.
- Term: This Referral Promotion runs from January 14, 2021 through March 31, 2021 (the “Term”). Any referrals received by BloomBoard outside of this Term do not qualify.
- Eligibility: Referrers must be legally able to participate in the Referral Promotion, and must be 1) at least the age of majority where they reside but no less than 18 years of age, 2) be enrolled in the Program.
- Maximum Referral Rewards: A Referrer’s total Referral Rewards cannot exceed the cost of the Program. (e.g. for the full Program, a Referrer is eligible to receive Referral Rewards in an amount up to but not exceeding$5,000 in gift cards). In other words, a Referrer may receive Referral Rewards for a maximum of 50 Qualified Referrals.
- Multiple Referrals: A referral candidate must include the Referrer’s name on their original Program Enrollment Form. BloomBoard will issue only one Referral Reward per Qualified Referral. If a referral candidate submits a second enrollment form with a different Referrer’s name, the Referrer that is listed on that form will not be eligible for a Referral Reward.
- In order for the Referrer to qualify for a Referral Reward, both the Qualified Referral and Referrer must have completed Program enrollment by March 31, 2021. A person shall be deemed to have completed Program enrollment if they paid the Program fee upfront or completed a finance agreement through Climb.
- Each Referral Reward will be sent via email. All Referral Rewards will be sent to the Referrer within 30 days of the date by which both the Referrer and the Qualified Referral completes Program enrollment. If the parties complete Program enrollment on different dates, the date of the Referral Reward will be based upon the later of the two enrollment dates.
Terms & Conditions
“Group Pricing” Promotion: BloomBoard wishes to offer a reward to educators who enroll in the BloomBoard-KEDC Rank II Pathway Program (the “Program”) as part of a group of three or more educators (“Group Members”), and/or to educators who refer a group of three or more educators to enroll in the Program during the Term of this Group Pricing Promotion (“Referrers”).
Qualified Group Member Enrollment: An educator who enrolls in the Program as part of a group of three or more and designates the same “Cohort Name” on the Program Enrollment Form during the Term of this Group Pricing Promotion (“Qualified Group Member Enrollment”) is eligible to receive a Visa gift card valued at $100, $200, or $300, depending upon the number of Group Members (“Group Member Enrollment Reward”). The Group Member Enrollment Reward increases with the number of Qualified Group Members:
- 3 or more Qualified Group Members = $100 Group Member Enrollment Reward
- 6 or more Qualified Group Members = $200 Group Member Enrollment Reward
- 10 or more Qualified Group Members = $300 Group Member Enrollment Reward
Qualified Group Referral: An educator who refers a group of three or more educators to BloomBoard to enroll in the Program during the Term of this Group Pricing Promotion (“Referred Educators”) will be eligible to receive a Visa gift card valued at $100, $200, or $300, depending upon the number of Group Members within each Group Referral (“Group Referral Reward”). To qualify for the Group Referral Reward, at least three of the Referred Educators must enroll in the Program during the Term of this Group Pricing Promotion and designate the same “Cohort Name” on the Program Enrollment Form (“Qualified Group Referral”). The Group Referral Reward increases with the number of Qualified Group Members with a single Group:
- 3 or more Qualified Group Members = $100 Group Referral Reward per Group
- 6 or more Qualified Group Members = $200 Group Referral Reward per Group
- 10 or more Qualified Group Members = $300 Group Referral Reward per Group
Program Enrollment Form: All Group Members must designate the same “Cohort Name” as their fellow Group Members on the Program Enrollment Form on the BloomBoard website at: https://bloomboard.com/program/kedc-learn-more/.
Term: This Group Pricing Promotion runs from August 15, 2021 through October 31, 2021 (the “Term”). Any group enrollments or group referrals received by BloomBoard outside of this Term do not qualify. To qualify for a Group Member Enrollment Reward or Group Referral Reward(s), the Group Members must complete Program enrollment by September 15, 2021. A person shall be deemed to have completed Program enrollment if they meet the following criteria:
- The Group Member has paid the Program fee up front, or
- The Group Member has completed a finance agreement through Climb.
Eligibility: Group Members, Referred Educators, and Referrers must be legally able to participate in the Group Pricing Promotion, and must be 1) at least the age of majority where they reside but no less than 18 years of age, 2) be enrolled in the Program.
Maximum Rewards:
- A Group Member is eligible to receive only one Group Member Enrollment Reward. If an educator joins more than one group by designating more than one “Cohort Name” on the Program Enrollment Form, the educator is not eligible for more than one Group Member Enrollment Reward.
- Referrers may receive multiple Group Referral Rewards by referring multiple groups of educators to enroll in the Program during the Group Pricing Promotion term.
- A Group Member or Referrer’s total combined Group Member Enrollment Rewards and Group Referral Rewards cannot exceed the cost of the Program. (e.g. for the full Program, an educator is eligible to receive Group Member Enrollment Rewards and Group Referral Rewards in a combined amount up to but not exceeding $5,500 in gift cards). In other words, a Referrer may receive Group Referral Rewards for a maximum of 55 Qualified Group Referrals. Or, if an educator receives a Group Member Enrollment Reward for their enrollment in the Program, they may receive Group Referral Rewards for a maximum of 54 Qualified Group Referrals.
Payment of Rewards. Each Group Member Enrollment Reward and/or Group Referral Rewards will be sent via email. All Rewards will be sent to the Group Members and/or Referrers within 30 days of the date by which all Qualified Group Members complete Program enrollment. If the Qualified Group Members complete Program enrollment on different dates, the Reward will be sent to the Group Member and/or Referrers within 30 days of the date on which the last Group Member completed enrollment.