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I did the ECO program last year. I mean, I ended up with a credential, I was basically self-​taught, took boatloads of exams, i mean, I took ALOT of exams to get through without taking coursework. I felt well prepared to teach, but I had prior teaching experience and am sort of a natural anyways. I don’t feel like the program itself did a whole lot except make me legit to work as a credentialed teacher.
There were a lot of things that went wrong, for example, getting the wrong advice from someone there and finding they had made a mistake or oversight. For example, they have a technology course that is required and they say you can pass out of it if you pass an exam. They told me to take the Praxis technology exam. I studied for 3 weeks for it and it covered the weirdest things like building construction. Then I passed the exam only to find out that they meant I needed to pass the CSET technology exam which is a three part subject exam on things like wireless networking and troubleshooting. And they were just like ‘Oops. Sorry that you misunderstood.’ it was a $ 500 mistake and I still had to take the tech class. Bad karma for me because on the way to the tech class, I was deathly ill and it was mandatory to attend (i.e. if you are sick, there is no excuse, you need to show up) so I drove my sick self to the class, coughing up and all, and I got pulled over and issued a $ 350 speeding ticket. FUN! I made sure to cough up at lot at the officer who wouldn’t let my miserable snivelly self go and leave some germs behind on the pen she gave me to sign my carbon copy of the ticket :) Now I feel bad for that…
But anyways, in the end, there were some redeeming personalities there but they do seem like they’re sort of making it up as they go along. it’s a lot of work to do the ECO program but I already have two degrees and lots of loans so I wasn’t going back to school fulltime.
I got a good placement at a school in Fremont and although was pinkslipped I was rehired at a diff site the following year. it’s luck of the draw, really. The most important part is being prepared to answer interview questions when you get called for teaching positions. They don’t want you to look like a softie and my teaching style is not to be the students’ enemy, so some schools didn’t want me because I was just not coming across as strict enough. But you have to make sure you’ll fit into the culture at the school, so you just have to be patient and see where you can find a good fit.
I think my 3 stars is a bit of a stretch, but I mean I can thank them for getting me through it within a year and I’m really enjoying teaching.
One thing I do not like is that they basically could make the ECO program a lot cheaper — I mean I really only saw my ‘cohort’ as they like to call it about 3 times. I didn’t take the pre class over the summer cuz I passed out of it. So I didn’t really bond a lot with them but I just didn’t have the funds or time to spend in the pre-​ECO class. So they basically found the cost of an ECO program at a competing school and that’s what they charged us. I think I paid about 9K for the entire year and it was deducted from my salary so it was like getting paid 9K less — in a way it didn’t hurt too bad. But also remember I took boatloads of CSETS, praxis exams, and CBEST… it’s a lot. I took ALOT of CSETs and I would recommend you get credentialed in two or more subject. For example last year I taught math but they increased math class sizes so I was slipped. And since I had the art credential that I took last year, I got placed to teach art. And it’s REALLY fun! also a lot of work but REALLY fun too.
if you are looking for a valuable educational experience, you’re probably better off somewhere else with a real credential/​class program. This is more like a DIY program where you pretty much have classroom management down, you’re not afraid of kids, you got your head on your shoulders and you will be able to take any kind of craziness that comes your way. If you are the adaptable type, I’d recommend giving it a try.

I completed my credential in 2008. This is the biggest piece of crap program ever. Started teaching in Fall of 06 and still am teaching. I did NOT LEARN ANYTHING from this piece of crap program.
The professors were ok– some good, some bad, but the program was horribly run.
It took 4 attempts to get a correct scantron. They don’t know their head from their arse.
I would NEVER EVER EVER recommend Pipeline to ANYONE!