PURPOSE: This program is designed to prepare students for employment in the Early Childhood/Child Care area. PROGRAM CONTENT: This course stresses the understanding and demonstration of the following aspects of the Early Childhood Industry: planning, management, finance, technical and production skills, underlying principles of technology, labor, community, health, safety and environmental issues; and developmentally appropriate practices from children birth through age eight. Activities provide instruction in the use of manipulative equipment; language development; creative art, music, science, dramatic play, developmentally appropriate practices, brain research, classroom management and established early childhood/child development competencies. LENGTH OF PROGRAM: The entire program is 600 hours (120 of classroom instruction and 480 hours of direct work with children), but students can earn a certificate at the completion of the following OCP's: OCP A Child Care Worker 45 hours OCP B Child Care Teacher Aide 105 hours OCP C Pre School Teacher 300 hours OCP D Child Care Development Specialist 150 hours Students must initially complete a DCF mandated 30-hour training that includes: State and local rules and regulations (6 hours); Health, Safety and Nutrition (8 hours); Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (4 hours); Child Growth and Development (6 hours); and Behavioral Observation and Screening (6 hours). To earn an Early Childhood Professional Certificate, students must also complete a 10-hour Preschool Appropriate practices course. Students must create and maintain a Professional Resource File as they progress through the program, to include: 300-word autobiography (about him/herself and why he/she made the decision to work with young children); 250-word statement of competence related to the eight content areas listed in the program; and a resource collection that includes evidence of activities in each content area. The eight content areas are: 1) Planning a safe, healthy environment to invite learning; 2) Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development; 3) Positive ways to support children's social and emotional development; 4) Strategies to establish productive relationships with families; 5) Strategies to manage effective program operations; 6) Maintaining a commitment to professionalism; 7) Observing and recording children's behavior; and 8) Principles of child growth and development. Minimum basic-skills grade levels required for awarding a Full Program Completion Certificate are 9th grade in Math, Reading and Language on the TABE Test. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Individuals could work in the Child Care/Preschool profession as child care workers, aides, preschool teachers and/or child care specialists, and in privately owned business. SALARY: Earnings for child care workers/teachers/specialists vary by specialty and level of responsibility. For example, average hourly earnings of child care workers is $8; of preschool teachers, $10; of child social workers, $15. Teacher Aides yearly salary averages $19,000. The demand for child care workers is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations. NOTE: Different kinds of Financial Aid are available to eligible students and eligible programs. Applications and information regarding financial aid resources may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.

See the school catalog for additional information.