This program provides the student the opportunity to:

• Apply general education and early childhood education knowledge to the creation of effective learning environments for children birth through grade 4.
• Develop skill competencies required for a career in Early Childhood Education by laying the foundation for entrance into the workforce or transfer to a Pre-k to Grade 4 PA teacher certification program.
• Earn an AAS degree in Early Childhood Education by meeting standards outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

The graduate of this program is able to:

• Make evidence-based decisions to support the development and learning of the child through understanding the domains of the developmental period from birth to 8 years, understanding each child as an individual, and understanding the multiple contexts influencing the development-learning process. (NAEYC Standard 1)
• Create family-teacher-community partnerships and connections to support child development and learning through understanding and knowledge of the value of diversity, through collaboration with families and communities and through the use of community resources in support of partnerships and collaborations as evidenced through family involvement and mock family-teacher conference. (NAEYC Standard 2)
• Observe, document, and assess to record developmental progress and promote positive outcomes for each child based on knowledge of types, purposes, and ethical and appropriate uses of assessments in making instructional choices and plans in collaboration with families and professional colleagues as evidenced through child portfolios and child studies. (NAEYC Standard 3).
• Demonstrate developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate teaching practices through engaging in positive, caring and supportive interactions, recognizing play as the core of teaching practice, and implementing a variety of evidence-based strategies for universal design to create learning environments, advance academic knowledge, provide social/emotional support, and apply relevant anti-bias strategies as evidenced through the planning, implementation, and evaluation of lessons. (NAEYC Standard 4)
• Develop early childhood curriculum based upon knowledge, application, and integration of academic content through the understanding of academic content and use of knowledge gained through Standards 1-4 to develop age-appropriate experiences and modify teaching practices appropriately as evidenced through the development of a play-based curriculum and the presentation of a professional portfolio. (NAEYC Standard 5)
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• Demonstrate and articulate ECE professional values, ethics, and philosophy by identifying as an advocate for the field, upholding early childhood professional guidelines, using professional communication skills, continuing to learn, practicing reflective and intentional practice as evidenced through the joining of professional organization, engaging in professional advocacies, and maintaining required clearances. (NAEYC Standard 6)