The Early Childhood Education for Elementary Teaching Certificate of Achievement prepares the student to assist in schools and other group educational settings. The certificate offers courses in preparation for the associate degree and/or transfer to a four-year university with a foundation in child development, applying developmental theories to learning, culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategies and curriculum development, the positive guidance approach, working effectively with diverse student populations, and understanding typical/atypical behavior. The certificate provides foundational courses in child development in preparation for transfer to a four-year university to continue a course of study in child development, elementary education (including Transitional Kindergarten), special education, or other teacher credentialing pathways. Students will participate in hands-on learning experiences working with young children in the Cabrillo College Children's Center Preschool as a student teacher and as an education service learning student in an elementary classroom placement.
A total of twenty students are expected to enroll with potential for annual growth. Completion rates of the certificate of achievement are expected to be five to ten per year with a potential for annual growth.
Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for the new Early Childhood Education (ECE) for Elementary Teaching Certificate of Achievement in Career Education. The certificate is designed to prepare students to take advantage of rich employment opportunities in the positions of classroom teacher in preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, elementary, special education, teaching assistant, resource specialist, after school, and paraeducators.
The need for workers in the diverse fields of elementary teaching has been advocated by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, local school districts, local businesses, the ECE Program’s Advisory Board, and is supported by current regional labor market research (TOP 1305.00). The Early Childhood Education for Elementary Teaching Certificate of Achievement is aligned with Cabrillo’s mission, master plan, and statewide community college work in Guided Pathways. Approval of this program will benefit regional employers, fulfill the workforce needs of the local community, augment college enrollment, and support non-traditional and underserved minority students in a viable career and academic path. This program would give our students the knowledge and skills they need to move onwards to a two year degree, a four-year university, or excel in the workforce.
Based on data included in this report, there is a large labor market gap in the Bay Area region with 7,864 annual openings for the ECE for Elementary Teaching occupational cluster and 2,471 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 5,393 students. In the SC-Monterey Sub-Region, there is also a gap with 1,010 annual openings and 194 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 816 students.
It is critical to give community college students educational and professional experience that is necessary to be successful when they continue to higher degrees or certificates.
The goals for ECE students is to increase their skillset working with children from preschool through elementary school age, to become gainfully employed, to continue to the workplace, to continue to an associate degree and/or to transfer to a four-year university. Working with employers to identify earning potential is promising, with potential for a starting salary of $35,000-$58,000/year in jobs such as classroom teacher in elementary, transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, special education, teaching assistant, resource specialist, after school, and paraeducators.
The Early Childhood Education for Elementary Teaching Certificate provides a course of study that satisfies multiple requirements and content needs, including the core licensing requirements required by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing and Department of Education/Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Child Development Permit, the Education Specialist Credential, and the Elementary Multiple Subject Credential. Students interested in working as a classroom teacher in ECE or elementary settings will develop the foundational knowledge for developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive teaching to foster children's growth, learning, and development in all areas throughout the in grades pre-kindergarten through third grade..
It is critical to give community college students educational and professional experience that is necessary to continue to an associate degree, and/or transfer to a four-year university to be successful when they enter the workforce.
Students who complete this program will be able to:
The Early Childhood Education for Elementary Teaching Certificate of Achievement is a 25.5 unit program focused on preparing students to work as a classroom teacher in elementary, transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, special education, teaching assistant, resource specialist, after school, and paraeducator. All course work is housed in the Early Childhood Education and the Education programs.
Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
---|---|---|---|
ECE31 | Child Growth and Development | 3.00 | Y1 |
ECE32 | Child, Family, and Community | 3.00 | Y2 |
ECE34 | Observation and Assessment Methods in Early Childhood Education | 3.00 | Y2 |
ECE51 | Principles of Working with Young Children | 3.00 | Y2 |
ECE52 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3.00 | Y2 |
ECE53 | Introduction to Curriculum for the Young Child | 3.00 | Y1 |
ECE53L | Curriculum Materials Lab | .50 | Y1 |
ECE54 | Early Childhood Education Practicum | 4.00 | Y2 |
ECE80 | American Education in a Changing World | 2.00 | Y1 |
ECE80L | Education Service Learning Lab | 1.00 | Y1 |
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