top of page
Classroom Discussion

U-LAUNCH: CEO Academy

U-LAUNCH: CEO Academy

Training & Professional Development for Childcare Educator Operators

U-LAUNCH: CEO Academy is the training and Related Technical Instruction (RTI) division of U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes. The Academy delivers competency-based, standards-aligned training that prepares individuals to operate legally compliant, high-quality home-based Childhood Development Homes—and supports ongoing professional growth after launch.

​

CEO Academy is the training engine behind the CEO Registered Apprenticeship and a core pillar of quality within the Approved HOMES system.

​

What the CEO Academy Does

CEO Academy provides:

  • RTI (Related Technical Instruction) for the CEO Registered Apprenticeship

  • Competency-based, stackable training aligned to Virginia standards

  • Two-stage pathways (RTI CEO I and RTI CEO II)

  • Ongoing professional development for active Childcare Educator Operators (CEOs)

  • Training that supports approval, compliance, and continuous improvement within U-LAUNCH: CDH’s system

In short, the Academy ensures that what CEOs learn in training shows up in daily practice and business operations.

​

How the System Fits Together

  • CEO Apprenticeship = the workforce pathway (earn while you learn; OJT + RTI; path to approval)

  • CEO Academy = the training engine (RTI, credentials, professional development)

  • Approved HOMES = the quality & oversight system (approval, monitoring, HOME Tool, Report Cards)

 

Together, these form a single, integrated pathway from:

training → approval → operation → continuous improvement.

​​

Learn about  →  The CEO Apprenticeship 
Learn about → Approved HOMES Training Structure

​

RTI CEO I — Core Foundations (Required)

RTI CEO I covers the core knowledge and skills required to operate a compliant, high-quality home-based program, including:

  • Health, safety, and nutritional practices

  • Child growth and development

  • Observation and assessment

  • Learning environments and effective interactions

  • Family and community engagement

  • Program management

  • Best business practices and record keeping

  • Compliance, professionalism, and operations

 

Stackable credentials earned in RTI CEO I include:

  • Virginia ELDS Micro-Credential

  • Virginia Preservice Training

  • Annual Virginia Health & Safety Update Training

  • Daily Health Observation

  • CPR & First Aid (Child, Pediatric, Adult)

  • Child Abuse & Neglect / Mandated Reporter Training

  • Bloodborne Pathogens Training

​​

This stage builds the educational, operational, and compliance foundation for approval and successful operation.

​

RTI CEO II — Advanced & Career Pathways

After completing RTI CEO I, apprentices advance through RTI CEO II and choose one of two options:

1) College Coursework Pathway
Apprentices may complete approved 3-credit college courses recognized through Project Pathfinders and aligned with the Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program (VCCPSP) to substitute for RTI CEO II coursework.

Pre-approved options include:
CHD 120, CHD 145, CHD 165, CHD 205, EDU 235 or HLT 135, CHD 118, CHD 216, CHD 146, PSY 235
(Only four (4) courses are required.)

​

OR

 

2) Apprenticeship Continuation Pathway
Apprentices continue advanced training and specialization within the U-LAUNCH: CDH apprenticeship system while building experience and credentials on the job.

​

Additional stackable credentials in RTI CEO II may include (pathway-dependent):​

  • Medication Administration Training (MAT)

  • Virginia Notary Public

  • ServSafe Manager

  • CLASS Observer Certification (optional)

Both pathways deepen expertise, strengthen practice, and support long-term career growth.

​

Standards & Alignment

CEO Academy training aligns with:

  • 8VAC20-780-190 (Program Director Qualifications)

  • Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) subsidy training requirements

  • Virginia Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS)

  • CWSE5691: Recognizing, Responding, and Reporting for Educators

This ensures training is workforce-relevant, regulator-aware, and practice-ready.

​

Beyond Apprenticeship: Ongoing Professional Development

CEO Academy also provides ongoing professional development for active CEOs within the Approved HOMES system, supporting:

  • Continuous quality improvement

  • Compliance updates and refreshers

  • Business operations and sustainability

  • Leadership and supervisory development

  • Alignment with evolving state and system standards

 

Training doesn’t stop at launch—it continues throughout a CEO’s career.

​

Who Is the Employer of Record?

Approved Childhood Development Homes operate as the Employer of Record for CEO Apprentices. This means:

  • Apprentices are employed by an Approved Home

  • The Approved Home is responsible for wages, payroll, and day-to-day supervision

  • U-LAUNCH: CEO Academy provides the training (RTI)

  • The CEO Apprenticeship provides the structure and standards, and

  • Approved HOMES provides system-level oversight and quality assurance

In short: Approved Homes employ. U-LAUNCH trains, structures, and oversees quality.

​

Who the CEO Academy Serves

  • CEO Apprentices completing RTI within the Registered Apprenticeship

  • Prospective CEOs preparing for entry into the system

  • Active CEOs seeking ongoing professional development and advancement

  • System partners supporting workforce and quality initiatives

​​

Start With the Apprenticeship

CEO Academy delivers the training—but entry into the pathway begins with the CEO Registered Apprenticeship.

 

Explore the CEO Apprenticeship 

​

Why CEO Academy Matters

CEO Academy ensures that:

  • Training is standardized, rigorous, and practical

  • Credentials are stackable and career-building

  • Quality is built in before approval and strengthened over time

  • CEOs are prepared to operate compliant, high-quality, sustainable home-based programs

  • U-LAUNCH’s system standards are consistently taught and reinforced

bottom of page