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About Aim4Excellence

Aim4Excellence is an online national director credential for early childhood administrators. More than 2,000 leaders across the country have earned this credential. Aim4Excellence modules can be taken for college credit or noncredit, used to help programs attain NAEYC accreditation, or linked state professional development or QRIS.

Aim4Excellence focuses on the essential knowledge and skills leaders need to deliver high-quality programming for young children. It is recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as an alternative pathway for meeting part of the director qualifications for NAEYC program accreditation.

Participants can complete all nine, self-paced modules to earn the Aim4Excellence National Director Credential or select only one or a few to build competence in a specific management area. Participants can connect to Aim4Excellence anytime from anywhere they have Internet access. No special software or textbooks are required. Everything needed is included in the module registration fee.

An Aim4Excellence FAQ is below. Our HelpDesk is also available to answer questions, including how to renew your credential and how to partner with us to offer an Aim4Excellence cohort.

College Credit Options

Undergraduate and graduate college credit is available for the Aim4Excellence" modules from the following institutions for an additional fee. Scholarships and financial aid may be available to help you cover the costs of taking Aim4Excellence for college credit.

Undergraduate Level Credit

The NLU Aim4Excellence courses are each five quarter hours and span two quarters (24 weeks). Participants taking these courses must abide by the following course schedule. Because each course spans two terms, transcripts will reflect a grade for work completed at the end of the first quarter (“Part A” – 2 quarter hours) and a grade for work completed at the end of the second quarter (“Part B” – 3 quarter hours):

ECE311: Administration I | Leadership Strategies and Staff Development (Aim4Excellence Modules 1, 2, and 3)

Quarters Course available for purchase Final day to submit all assignments for module 1 Final day to submit all assignments for modules 2 and 3 Transcript available for request
Winter – Spring 2024 October 5, 2023 – January 17, 2024 April 2, 2024 June 14, 2024 July 11, 2024
Spring – Summer 2024 January 18 – April 10, 2024 June 14, 2024 August 31, 2024 September 20, 2024
Summer – Fall 2024 April 11 – July 4, 2024 August 31, 2024 December 1, 2024 December 23, 2024
Fall 2024 – Winter 2025 July 5 – October 4, 2024 December 1, 2024 April 2, 2025 April 20, 2025



ECE312: Administration II | Managing Center Operations and Finances (Aim4Excellence Modules 4, 5, and 6)

Quarters Course available for purchase Final day to submit all assignments for module 4 Final day to submit all assignments for modules 5 and 6 Transcript available for request
Winter – Spring 2024 October 5, 2023 – January 17, 2024 April 2, 2024 June 14, 2024 July 11, 2024
Spring – Summer 2024 January 18 – April 10, 2024 June 14, 2024 August 31, 2024 September 20, 2024
Summer – Fall 2024 April 11 – July 4, 2024 August 31, 2024 December 1, 2024 December 23, 2024
Fall 2024 – Winter 2025 July 5 – October 4, 2024 December 1, 2024 April 2, 2025 April 20, 2025



ECE313: Administration III | Implementing and Evaluating the Program (Aim4Excellence Modules 7,8, and 9)

Quarters Course available for purchase Final day to submit all assignments for module 7 Final day to submit all assignments for modules 8 and 9 Transcript available for request
Winter – Spring 2024 October 5, 2023 – January 17, 2024 April 2, 2024 June 14, 2024 July 11, 2024
Spring – Summer 2024 January 18 – April 10, 2024 June 14, 2024 August 31, 2024 September 20, 2024
Summer – Fall 2024 April 11 – July 4, 2024 August 31, 2024 December 1, 2024 December 23, 2024
Fall 2024 – Winter 2025 July 5 – October 4, 2024 December 1, 2024 April 2, 2025 April 20, 2025


CREDIT

5 quarter hours per course

COST

$400 per course + the module registration fees.

Financial aid may be available to current NLU students. Learn more.

GET STARTED

To get started, select the NLU college credit course(s) in the eLearning storefront.

DROPPING A NLU AIM4EXCELLENCE COURSE

A student may request a full refund for the NLU tuition fees through NLU. If you need to drop a course, you must do so in writing prior to the completion of the first module of the course and within seven days of the date of first log in.

Registration fees will not be refunded for modules already started. You may request in writing a refund of 50% of the module registration fee, as described in the Terms and Conditions, for modules not yet started.

ADDITIONAL TERMS

All students enrolled in Aim4Excellence are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the program. Students registered to take the modules for credit through NLU are subject to the policies described in the NLU Student Guidebook.

EDUC340: Special Topics Aim4Excellence

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 1, 2, and 3)

EDUC 340: Special Topics Aim4Excellence

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 4, 5, and 6)

EDUC 490: Special Topics Aim4Excellence

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 7, 8, and 9)


CREDIT

3 semester hours per course

COST

USI standard tuition and fees + the module registration fees

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® INDIANA will pay part of the USI tuition costs for eligible Indiana students.

Additional financial aid may be available to assist with costs.

GET STARTED

Prior to registering for the Aim4Excellence modules, contact Jean Moore at jmoore@usi.edu to enroll.

IMPORTANT

The Aim4Excellence modules provided to meet the University of Southern Indiana (USI) course description requirements are exclusively for USI students only. Participants must be officially accepted students at USI and Indiana residents only.

For new students starting July 2019, students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Leadership Bachelor Completer degree who hold a current Aim4Excellence Director Credential may receive waivers from: Organizational Management in ECE, Supporting Professional Practices in ECE and Ethics and Leadership in ECE equal to 12 quarter credits. In order to request a School of Education Waiver, the participant must present a current and valid certificate or transcript from the credentialing agency. The participant’s credential will then be reviewed, and if the criteria are met, Rasmussen College will waive the course requirements and the grades will be posted on the student transcript as a Course Waiver (CW).

ECED 4325: Early Childhood Program Development & Management I - Leadership Strategies and Staff Development

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 1, 2, and 3)

ECED 4327 - Early Childhood Program Development & Management II - Managing Center Operations and Finance

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 4, 5, and 6)

ECED 4329 - Early Childhood Program Development & Management III - Implementing and Evaluating the Program

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 7, 8, and 9)


CREDIT

3 semester hours per course

COST

Contact Amber Brown at BrownA@UHCL.edu.

GET STARTED

Interested participants should contact Amber Brown to get started at 281.283.3627 or BrownA@UHCL.edu.

Graduate Level Credit

T&L590: Administration and Leadership in Early Childhood Education I

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 1, 2, and 3)

T&L590: Administration and Leadership in Early Childhood Education II

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 4, 5, and 6)

T&L590: Administration and Leadership in Early Childhood Education III

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 7, 8, and 9)

CREDIT

4 semester hours per course

COST

UND standard tuition and fees + the module registration fees

GET STARTED

Interested participants should contact Jo-Anne Yearwood to get started at 701.777.6580 or joanne.yearwood@und.edu.

EDUC 590-NO1: Special Topics Aim4Excellence

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 1, 2, and 3)

EDUC 590-NO1: Special Topics Aim4Excellence

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 4, 5, and 6)

EDUC 590-NO1: Special Topics Aim4Excellence

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 7, 8, and 9)


CREDIT

3 semester hours per course

COST

USI standard tuition and fees + the module registration fees.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® INDIANA will pay part of the USI tuition costs for eligible Indiana students.
Additional financial aid may be available to assist with costs.

GET STARTED
Prior to registering for the Aim4Excellence modules, contact Moriah Smothers at mjsmothers@usi.edu to enroll.

IMPORTANT
The Aim4Excellence modules provided to meet the University of Southern Indiana (USI) course description requirements are exclusively for USI students only. Participants must be officially accepted students at USI and Indiana residents only.

ECED 5336 - Administration and Management of Programs for Young Children I

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)

ECED 5337 - Administration and Management of Programs for Young Children II

(Requires completion of Aim4Excellence Modules 6, 7, 8, and 9)


CREDIT

3 semester hours per course

COST

Contact Amber Brown at BrownA@UHCL.edu.

GET STARTED

Interested participants should contact Amber Brown to get started at 281.283.3627 or BrownA@UHCL.edu.

Aim4Excellence Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What do you need to know before you begin the Aim4Excellence™ modules? We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help.

The McCormick Center partners with professional development organizations around the country to offer facilitated cohorts of Aim4Excellence™ participants.

Cohorts blend the benefits of online learning with the power of facilitated face-to-face interactions to promote communities of practice. Communities of practice have been shown to support the integration of new knowledge, provoke critical thinking, challenge old assumptions, and develop leadership skills.

Please reach out to our A4X Manager to learn more about starting a cohort.
How long does it take to complete a module?

If you do all the readings and assignments associated with each module, it should take approximately 16 hours to complete.

How long do I have to complete a module?

Please refer to the store front for additional information regarding due dates. Note that if you are a scholarship recipient or are participating as a part of a group or cohort, your funder or sponsor may elect to shorten the timeline in which you need to complete each module.

What happens if I fail to complete a module by the expiration date?

You will need to re-register and repay for that module in order to complete the module and receive your Certificate of Completion.

Can I take more than one module at a time?

You can certainly register for as many modules as you like at once, but we strongly recommend that you work on only one module at a time. As soon as you complete one module you can begin the next.

Do I need to take the modules in order?

If you are only registering for a couple of modules, you can certainly take the modules in any order you like. If you plan to attain the Aim4Excellence™ national director credential by completing all nine modules, however, we suggest you take them in sequence, beginning with Module 1. Please note that if you are taking the modules for college credit, you must complete them in sequence within a course.

How many clock hours will I receive for each module?

Each module is worth 16 clock hours. After successfully completing a module you’ll receive a certificate with the clock hours indicated at the bottom.

I’m from Illinois. How long will it take my clock hours to appear on the Gateways for Opportunity Registry?

Clock hours for those modules you successfully complete will automatically appear on the Illinois Gateways for Opportunity Registry. Allow up to 60 days from your certificate date for the module to appear on your registry.

Am I required to renew my Aim4Excellence™ National Director Credential?

In order to maintain a valid credential, Aim4Excellence™ credentialed directors must renew every five years. Please reach out to our HelpDesk to learn more about the renewal process.

How do I get a new or replacement credential?

You can request a new credential by emailing McCormickCenterHelpdesk@nl.edu or call the HelpDesk 844.378.2464 There is a $10.00 replacement fee, the credential will not be sent without the $10.00 fee paid in full.

Do I need to purchase textbooks or software to take Aim4Excellence™?

No. Everything you need is right at your fingertips as you log on to Aim4Excellence™. There are no extra textbooks you need to purchase. Everything is included in the per module registration fee. All of the reading materials, assignments, and media you need are easily accessible from your computer screen as you log on.

Can I complete the Aim4Excellence™ modules on my tablet or smartphone?

The Aim4Excellence modules can be accessed on a tablet or a smartphone. However, we strongly recommend using a device with a full-size screen and keyboard for ease of use.

Are there tests?

All of the Aim4Excellence™ modules include a variety of evidence of learning assignments such as reflections, exercises, classroom observations, and yes, quizzes.

Do I need to scan my work or send attachments for the assignments I’ve completed?

You will need to download the evidence of learning assignments as PDFs, save them to your computer, complete them, and upload them back into the system in order to submit them for review. The modules include specific instructions on how to complete and upload the assignments.

Will I be graded on the assignments I do?

Each module includes a variety of evidence of learning that total 100% In order to receive a Certificate of Completion for a module, you must attain a score of 70% or higher. Most students find that they can easily achieve a “passing” score by carefully reading the articles and handouts and providing thoughtful responses to the evidence of learning.

Is there additional homework if I decide to take Aim4Excellence™ for college credit?

Those taking the modules for credit through National Louis University are required only to complete the evidence of learning included inside each module. Other institutions offering credit may require additional assignments or activities. Learn more about college credit options. Your work will be graded according to the institution’s standard grading scale.

Do I get a grade for each module?

Each module has a maximum score of 100%. Participants who are not taking modules for college credit are scored pass/fail. To successfully complete the module you need to earn 70% or more on the Evidence of Learning. Once you have successfully completed the module, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for the module. Should you successfully complete all nine modules you will receive a certificate for your Aim4Excellence™ National Director Credential. Most students find that they can easily achieve a “passing” score by carefully reading the articles and handouts and providing thoughtful responses to the Evidence of Learning activities. Note that if you are a scholarship recipient or are participating as a part of a group or cohort, your funder or sponsor may require a higher passing score.

Where can I go to find out the percentage value of each of the Evidence of Learning (EOLs) in a module?

In the module, you will see a Summary listed between the outline and the transcript. This document includes a list of the EOLs, along with their percentage values. We encourage you to print this summary to have on hand as you work through the module. The EOL summary is a useful tool to help you determine which EOLs require the most attention. The summary also includes a sample rubric to give you a sense of how EOLs are scored.

What happens if I fail to attain the minimum required score?

Should you fail to attain a total score of 70%, you will need to re-register and repay for that module in order to redo the module and achieve a Certificate of Completion.

What if I don’t care about receiving a Certificate of Completion for a module or pursuing the Aim4Excellence™ National Director Credential and just want to learn something about the topic. Can I still register?

Sure. It is perfectly fine to just audit a module. If you wish to audit a module, please email your request to McCormickCenterHelpDesk@nl.edu or call our HelpDesk at 844.378.2464. This is a great way for resource and referral specialists, college instructors, and early childhood consultants to get an update on the management content covered in the specific Aim4Excellence™ modules.

Will the content of my answers remain confidential?

Yes. The Aim4Excellence™ faculty scorers are held to the highest ethical standards. You can feel confident, to be honest in your reflections as your responses will remain confidential.

What type of college credit is available?

The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership has partnered with a number of institutions to offer the Aim4Excellence™ modules for college credit. Both undergraduate and graduate-level options are available. Learn more about college credit options.

Is there additional homework if I decide to take Aim4Excellence for college credit?

Those taking the modules for credit through National Louis University are required only to complete the Evidence of Learning included inside each module. Other institutions offering credit may require additional assignments or requirements. Learn more about college credit options. Your work will be graded according to the institution’s standard grading scale.

Do I need a username and password to log in to Aim4Excellence™?

Yes. Once your new user account registration has been verified, you will receive a notification with login information.

Is the content of Aim4Excellence™ backed by research?

Yes. Aim4Excellence™ was developed in response to research consistently showing that directors’ effectiveness is directly related to their own level of formal education and specialized training in leadership and management. Five content specialists (all Ph.D.s with expertise in early childhood administration) wrote the content for the nine modules based on principles of instructional practice and the unique needs of this segment of adult learners. View references and read more about research supporting Aim4Excellence™.

How does Aim4Excellence™ align with national standards?

Outcomes and assessments for Aim4Excellence™ are aligned with both the standards for initial licensure and advanced degree programs in early childhood teacher preparation. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) collaborated to establish joint standards that are used across both organizations’ accreditation systems and across associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree level. View a matrix of NCATE/NAEYC Standards and Aim4Excellence™. Aim4Excellence™ also aligns with the Program Administration Scale (PAS). NAEYC recognizes Aim4Excellence™ as an alternative pathway for meeting part of the director qualifications for NAEYC program accreditation.

How does Aim4Excellence™ align with the Program Administration Scale (PAS)?

Drs. Paula Jorde Bloom and Teri Talan, authors of the PAS, were integral in the development of Aim4Excellence™. Throughout the Aim4Excellence™ modules participants learn about and apply the best practices addressed in the PAS. View a matrix of the PAS items covered in Aim4Excellence™. Additionally, during Module 9: Evaluating Program Quality participants learn about the different administrative areas covered on the PAS and practice scoring items.

What if it is hard for me to listen to a video for a long period of time or read things on my computer screen?

We certainly appreciate the fact that there are many different learning styles. That is one of the reasons why each module includes a complete transcript of what is said by the Host Instructor and Lead Authors. Each module includes a transcript. All you’ll need to do is click and print.

I have a special need requiring accommodations to help me access and complete the modules. What resources are available to me?

The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University seeks to ensure that its programs are accessible to all persons. Students in need of special assistance or an accommodation regarding any of the course requirements as outlined above, the course objectives and/or course evaluation and assessment criteria, are advised to notify the McCormick Center before beginning a module. The student and McCormick Center staff member will discuss a resolution of the issue, which may or may not include an appropriate referral (e.g., a Writing Specialist; the Academic Accommodations Coordinator at the Office of Diversity, Access and Equity; or the Office of Student Affairs). Confidentiality is maintained regarding special needs.

What are the steps to renew my Aim4xcellence™ credential?

Step 1: Complete Coursework in Leadership and Management
Step 2: Purchase the Aim4Excellence Credential Renewal from the Store Front
Step 3: Submit the Renewal Application and Documentation of Coursework Requirements

How long will it take to hear back regarding the renewal of my credential?

Please allow 60 days for review and processing. Within 60 days of submitting your application, you’ll receive an email regarding your renewal status.

How soon can I renew my credential?

Participants who allow their credentials to expire will not hold a valid credential until they complete the renewal process. To avoid a lapse, you will want to submit for renewal 60 or more days before your expiration date.

How often am I expected to renew my Aim4xcellence™ credential?

In order to maintain a valid credential, Aim4Excellence™ credentialed directors must renew every five years.

I have certificates documenting that I have completed trainings for clock hours or CEUs. Can I apply them toward renewal of my Aim4Excellence credential?

Certificates documenting clock hours or CEUs may not be used to apply for renewal.

What documentation of my college coursework is required?

An official, sealed, unopened transcript from the college or university is required. Official electronic transcripts will be accepted if sent directly from the college or university to Aim4Excellence@nl.edu. Your transcript must demonstrate that you have completed the course with a grade of C or above.

Can I submit a transcript from a course I took more than five years ago?

The Aim4Excellence renewal process seeks to demonstrate that you have continued your professional development surrounding the topic of early childhood leadership and management. That said, only transcripts for coursework completed after your credential issuance date (or credential re-issuance date if you have renewed previously) will be accepted. Transcripts are required to be official, sealed, and unopened to ensure authenticity.

Where can I learn more about how to renew my Aim4Excellence™ Credential?

Click here to learn more.