Flight Course Series Pilot: Expression of Interest

The Flight course has been reshaped from its previous 21-week format into a serialised model. The Flight Course Series is made up of three series, each seven weeks in length.

Series 1 is called Noticing, Series 2 is called Naming, and Series 3 is called Nurturing.

This new format allows educators to complete one series at a time rather than committing to the full 21 weeks all at once.

The content and materials of the Flight course remain the same. The course continues to reflect the familiar imagery, overall layout, and accessibility features that are foundational to the image of Flight.

This first offering of the Flight Course Series will be delivered as a pilot running until September 30, 2026. What we learn through this pilot will help inform future delivery of the Flight Course Series.

In the Expression of Interest, you will be asked how many series you are interested in completing within the pilot timeframe.

• Educators must complete the Noticing series before progressing to the Naming series, and the Naming series must be completed before moving on to the Nurturing series.
• There will be a two-week break between each series to allow time for reflection and preparation for the next series.
• Educators are able to stop at the end of any series and join a future offering at a later time.
• After completing each series (Noticing, Naming, and Nurturing), educators receive a completion badge. These badges acknowledge engagement and learning within each series.
  • Once you have completed all three series, you will receive a Flight Course Certificate, which recognizes the full learning journey and the completion of all three series.
  • All three series must be completed within two years of starting to receive a Flight Course Series certificate.

Course seats are assigned randomly. After eligibility requirements have been reviewed, selected educators will be chosen at random and contacted individually. Course seats are assigned to individual educators and cannot be transferred or shared.

The Expression of Interest will be open until March 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Educators will be contacted after the Expression of Interest closes to confirm whether they have been selected for a course seat.

Educators can expect to receive an email confirming their enrolment in the course no later than two weeks after the Expression of Interest closes.

Educators who are not selected for a course seat in this pilot will also be notified by email. If you are not selected, stay tuned for future offerings. Become an AECEA member or join our non-member mailing list to stay up to date on Flight and AECEA’s work.

At this time, we are awaiting the Government of Alberta’s updated list of approved professional development opportunities connected to the Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program. As the Flight Course Series will not begin until April, we expect that this information will be available before the series begins.

Previously, the Flight course was included as an approved professional development opportunity for release time funding. While we believe the course will likely continue to be included, we will not have confirmation until the Government of Alberta releases the updated approved PD list.

Please note that the Flight Course Series is offered at no cost to participants. Because there is no registration fee, professional development funding would not apply to course fees; however, release time funding may still apply if the course is included on the approved list.

We will share updates as soon as more information becomes available.