• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Participant Materials
PD Essentials Logo

PD Essentials

Preparing Virginia's Early Childhood Professional Development Providers

  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Participating Organizations
    • Our History
  • Resources
    • For Leaders
    • For PD Providers
    • For Practitioners
    • Resource Library
    • Recent Updates
  • Professional Development
    • Upcoming Events
    • Essentials for Early Childhood PD Providers
    • Practice-Based Coaching
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Interested in becoming a licensed Early Childhood Special Educator?

Are you interested in becoming a licensed Early Childhood Special Educator with an M.Ed.? 

George Mason University, in collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools and other local school divisions, plans to start a new Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) cohort beginning Spring 2021. Completion of this cohort will lead to Virginia licensure in ECSE and an MED in Special Education.  

Mason and FCPS find the cohort structure to be effective in meeting the growing need for licensed ECSE teachers. Cohort members complete coursework with a group of students, thereby building a collaborative learning environment and network of friends and special educators across the region.  Cohorts with 20 or more students receive the 25% discount pricing and cohorts of fewer than 20 students receive the 15% Virginia Educators’ discount.  

The 7-week courses  follow a hybrid model of instruction with students meeting weekly for face-to-face classes and completing instruction asynchronously throughout the week. In addition, several courses are offered as fully online courses. Face-to-face courses meet at a central FCPS location (online until FCPS buildings open for community use again) and follow the FCPS calendar for holidays (e.g., Winter Break, Spring Break).   

This is a 36-credit program. Students take 6 credit-hours per semester and can complete the program in two years (six semesters). You must have a Bachelor’s degree to enroll in the cohort. 

For more details, please visit the Early Childhood Education Cohort Information page or review this flyer.

Please contact Kim Sopko at ksopko@gmu.edu or earlyed@gmu.edu for more information.

Footer

Contact Us

    Dr. Jaye Harvey

    PD Essentials State Coordinator

    jhwellons@vcu.edu
    (540) 588-7358

    VCPD · © 2025 · Built on the Genesis Framework · Log in