Big Blue Marble + CCEI: Supporting Your ECE Career
Big Blue Marble Academy and ChildCare Education Institute have partnered together to ensure educators are prepared to step confidently into the classroom. Big Blue Marble Academy is offering scholarship funds to it's ECE community of administrators, teachers, and staff.
As a Big Blue Marble Academy community member, you will have access to curated training, certifications, and the CDA programs you need to stay compliant and work-ready.
.png?width=1000&height=1000&name=Big%20Blue%20Marble%20Partner%20Logo%20(2).png)
.png?width=518&height=290&name=PST%20State%20LP%20Image%20Resize-8-Featured%20Image%20(2).png)
Simplify ECE Workforce Training—Without Adding to Your Workload
Supporting your state’s early childhood workforce shouldn’t feel overwhelming. ProSolutions Training helps you scale quickly with affordable, on-demand, bilingual courses that meet shifting regulations and requirements. From reducing delays to filling urgent training gaps, we’re here to be your trusted partner in building a stronger, better-prepared workforce.

A Community Committed to Your Success!
When you join our CDA training program, you become part of a community committed to your success. You’ll receive the 120 clock hours of training required to earn your CDA.
- Flexible: Online courses you can take at your own pace.
- Accessible: Courses are available in both English and in Spanish.
- Affordable: Hundreds of free resources, extra materials, and a certificate of completion.
- Attainable: Specialized support to maximize your training, assemble your Professional Portfolio, and prepare for the CDA exam.

Your Growth. Your Impact. Your Future.
- Gain confidence in your career.
- Grow personally and professionally with new skills.
- Increase your knowledge of early care and education.
- Earn more recognition within the industry.
- Build trust with parents and families.
- Advance your career with increased qualifications.
- And much more

Program Details
The CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education, and often a required step for leadership roles in the classroom or in administration.
Explore your pathway options: Birth-Five, Infant/Toddler, or Preschool and earn your credential with confidence.
- Access courses 24/7/365 from anywhere
- Take up to one year to complete your CDA coursework
- Education coaches provide on-going support
Why Educators Trust Us
For over 20 years, we’ve supported the early childhood education community, serving more than one million ECE professionals. Our courses are designed by PhD-level experts with real classroom experience and delivered through a flexible, easy-to-use online platform. With a 99% learner satisfaction rate and personalized reporting to support compliance, educators and leaders trust us for professional development that works in the real world.
Our training programs were also one of the first to receive CDA® Gold Standard Certification from the Council for Professional Recognition.
FAQs
What are the goals of the BBMA Pathways Program?
BBMA has partnered with ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), a StraighterLine company, to administer the BBMA Pathways Program. The goals of this program are to offer comprehensive CDA programs that are engaging, written by child care experts and provide dedicated support during the time you are enrolled in your CDA program. The CDA program is offered in three different settings: Birth to Five, Infant/Toddler or Preschool.
Who is eligible for this program?
Anyone who has been employed with BBMA for a minimum of 60 days, is eligible to apply.
How does the program work?
Once approved, BBMA Scholars may enroll in any of the three CDA program settings.
This CDA program is online and self-paced which means you can move at your own
speed. You have one full year to complete your CDA coursework and you can
access your coursework 24/7.
You can complete your CDA coursework on any device, including a cell phone, as
long as you have internet access.
Additionally, CCEI’s CDA students receive dedicated support from an Education
Coach that is assigned at the time of enrollment. While the program is online, each
student will have dedicated support until they complete their CDA coursework with
CCEI.
Once you have decided to enroll in a CDA program with CCEI, please submit your application and authorization form.
What is the duration of the program?
You have one full year, 365 days to complete your CDA coursework.
What costs are covered?
Covered expenses include:
- Tuition
- Registration fees
What are the minimum requirements to enroll in a Certificate Course of Study Program?
- Must be 16 years of age or older.
- Must provide evidence of possessing a high school diploma or GED obtained from
institutions accredited and recognized by U. S. Department of Education or be enrolled as
a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood
education. Diplomas earned outside the U. S. or presented in a language other than
English must be translated to English by a member of the American Translators
Association, an approved credential evaluation agency approved by the Bureau of
Educators Certification, or an accredited college/university. - Must have access to a computer and printer.
- Must have a valid email address.
- Must have access to the Internet through a CCEI supported JavaScript enabled web
browser (i.e. Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.). - Must be able to speak, read, and write well enough in the language the course is
presented in to understand and complete the course material. - Several courses within this program require observation, assessment, and practical
application of learning principles in an early childhood learning environment. Students
must be working in or have access to an early childhood environment to successfully
complete this program.
Who do I contact at BBMA with questions?
For questions related to BBMA, please contact:
Mary Marietta
Chief Human Resources Officer
mmarietta@bbmacademy.com
Who do I contact at CCEI with my questions?
For questions regarding your CDA program, you will contact your Education Coach.Their contact information will be provided immediately after enrollment.
Questions specific to the BBMA Pathways Program should be directed to: mthomas@cceionline.com
All other questions, please contact the help center.
Would I ever need to repay the Scholarship fees?
BBMA Scholars are expected to continue employment for twelve months following completion of their courses. If you choose to terminate their employment prior to that time, you will be expected to repay the associated fees.
How do I get started with CCEI?
- Once you have decided to enroll in a CDA program with CCEI, please complete a CCEI enrollment form and return it to Melissa Thomas via email at mthomas@cceionline.com or via fax using the fax number at the bottom of the enrollment form.
- You will receive an email notifying you if your application is approved or not.
- If approved for participation, within 48 business hours of receiving your approval email, you will receive a welcome email from CCEI with instructions on how to start your CDA coursework. Access to your CDA coursework will be through the same CCEI portal you currently use to take professional development courses.
About Big Blue Marble Academy
Big Blue Marble Academy is committed to providing children the opportunity to reach their highest potential. While offering a home away from home, they nurture little minds through a robust preschool curriculum that ensures they are cognitively, socially, and emotionally prepared for kindergarten and beyond.


