ECE ARC: Alternate Route to Certification

This program consists of intensive and accelerated instruction by expert faculty and leads to eligibility for the Connecticut teacher certification endorsement 112 (Integrated Early Childhood/Special Education Birth to Kindergarten). Successful program completers are eligible to work as Birth to Three Developmental Therapists and public-school preschool and kindergarten teachers in integrated settings. Applicants must meet with program administrators for an enrollment interview prior to acceptance into the program. Candidates must have at least three years of experience in the field of early childhood education, completed 15 credits of Human Growth and Development coursework (pre-requisites), and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to meet entry requirements. All candidates must complete the Praxis 1: Reading, Writing and Math exams. Program orientation will take place before the start of the semester's classes. Candidates will complete online coursework and will meet for required, virtual Saturday sessions, as scheduled. Additionally, candidates must be able to complete multiple field based projects throughout the duration of the program and must have regular and on-going access to groups of young children in a variety of settings. All candidates must complete a 140-hour internship (at least 70 hours must be completed in a Birth to Three/Early Intervention setting) prior to being recommended for certification. Candidates are responsible to identify internship placement sites. Candidates must successfully complete all portions of the program, including key assessments and completion of the edTPA portfolio assessment, in order to be recommended for teacher certification.  Students who complete the ECE ARC program must obtain employment for 90 days with a temporary teaching certificate prior to receiving their initial teaching certification from the State Department of Education.

Transcripts will display a "P" (Pass) or "F" (Fail) grade only. The threshold to receive a passing grade is equivalent to a 3.0 (B) or higher. ARC students are required to repeat an ARC module  if they do not receive a Pass grade

The courses for this program include:

Program Policies

When a student accepts an offer to enroll in the ARC program from Charter Oak State College the student accepts full responsibility to pay all tuition, fees, and other associated costs.

Students can view and print a Statement of Activity through the MyCharterOak student portal. Billing statements are also available with historical activity. These statements should be used for any student submitting for reimbursement. No other statement can be provided.

Costs are divided into 3 main components summarized on our fees page.

Financial Aid is not available for ARC candidates. Candidates may be eligible for scholarships through TeachCT. A library of scholarships can be accessed at connecticut.teach.org. 

Withdrawal & Refunds for ECE/ARC Program

Students are eligible for a 100% refund of any instructional semester costs paid if they drop prior to the start of the semester. Students withdrawn during a semester will still be financially responsible for semester charges. A student’s failure to attend class or receive a bill does not absolve the student of financial responsibility. If a student wishes to appeal charges on their account, he or she must appeal in writing, to the Provost, within 15 working days of the last day of the course.

Please review our Billing Polices prior to enrolling in the ARC program.  

Additional Undergraduate Courses

If a student needs to take additional undergraduate credit courses to meet the pre-requisite requirements for the program, the cost is $700 per 3-credit course. There is not an additional application, semester, or technology fee. Regular credit course withdrawal and refund policies apply.