About the Partnership: Development of the Colorado Early Childhood Professional Development Pathway as part of the Colorado EC PD CO-OP which has been funded to pilot a systemic approach to address the need for early childhood workforce training by establishing a sustainable competency-based professional development offering. Modules within the CO-OP will enable the workforce to build knowledge and skills while supporting pathways to degrees. This system will meet industry needs for qualified new teachers, increase competency and job satisfaction for in-service teachers, provide high quality professional learning, and move the field toward the degree attainment called for across the nation.   The founders of the CO-OP are the Schools of Education and Human Development at CU Denver and the University of Denver, however the CO-OP is envisioned as an open system inviting other IHEs and PD providers to contribute modules that abide by quality standards established by the CO-OP.