New, Low-Cost Option for Rank Advancement in Kentucky!

In partnership with the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative, BloomBoard is offering a new low-cost option for earning Rank Change. Approved by the EPSP, educators across the state can now earn rank change through a micro-credential-based program that’s self-paced and learning is integrated into your daily practice.

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Program Benefits

Low-Cost with Deferment

The program is a low-cost alternative to graduate courses. Payment can be deferred until your expected salary increase goes into effect.

Salary Advancement

Completion of the program enables educators to earn a Rank Change and salary advancement!

Job-Embedded Learning

Micro-credentials are job-embedded and much of the learning is integrated into your existing classroom practice.

Personalized Pathways

Select micro-endorsements you want to complete based on your personal interests and professional goals.

Talk to an Expert

Good Day Kentucky

Tanya Queen, a teacher at Catlettsburg Elementary School, is among hundreds of Kentucky teachers who are on track to earn Rank II and Rank I through this new program. Good Day Kentucky spoke with Tanya about her experience.

Watch the Segment

Interview with Roxanne Mullins

“I really appreciate that this program allows you to work at your own pace, and that much of the work is job-embedded. The program is anchored in the 10 Kentucky Teacher Standards, and since it’s micro-credential-based, I have the opportunity to really demonstrate the skills and competencies I’m learning. I’m practicing new strategies with my students in real-time.”

Read her story

WLEX Best of the Bluegrass

Tanya Queen, a teacher at Catlettsburg Elementary School, speaks with WLEX Best of the Bluegrass about her experience with BloomBoard and KEDC’s low-cost Rank Change program.

Watch the Interview

SmartBrief | A Learning-by-Doing Solution to Career Advancement

Tanya Queen, a teacher at Catlettsburg Elementary School, shared her experience in this SmartBrief article.

Being involved in this program has opened my eyes to the benefit and need for an affordable alternative pathway to the traditional master’s degree program.” – Tanya Queen

Read the Article

Financial Incentives

Kentucky Administrative Regulations now state that districts can develop their own Continuing Education Option for licensure rank change and certificate renewal. The Foundations of Teaching and Learning 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

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Program Structure & Supports

This Foundations in Teaching and Learning program is being offered by select educational cooperatives in Kentucky, 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 a Foundations Micro-endorsement (12 micro-credentials total) along with an additional micro-endorsement (8 micro-credentials total) 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.

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 BloomBoard Success Academy to help support the first micro-credential submission.

Office Hours

Your assigned coach will host a weekly office hour should you need additional 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the CEO Option?

Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) has removed the requirement for teachers to earn Rank II through a board-approved master’s degree program in their first 10 years of teaching. Kentucky Administrative Regulations now state that districts can develop their own Continuing Education Option (CEO) for rank change and certificate renewal.

To support districts in offering their teachers a CEO and ensuring all requirements are met, select KY educatonal cooperatives have worked with BloomBoard to 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?

No, the program simply qualifies an educator for Rank change in the state of Kentucky. Rank change must be recognized by any district in the state.

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 one year but you may take up to four years to complete the program.

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.

How do I get started?

If you still have questions about the program, click the “Learn More” button below to schedule time with one of our program counselors.

If you are ready to secure your spot in our next cohort, contact carter.myers@bloomboard.com to begin the enrollment process.

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) provide educators with the opportunity to defer payment until your salary increase goes into effect.

I’m Interested in Enrollment!

Want to learn more about the program and the various specialized micro-endorsements available? Fill out this form below and we’ll reach out to schedule a time to chat.

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.