I suggest support for model early childhood lab sites on cc campuses and help to promote the Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education as a viable option for early childhood teaching requirements.
The research shows us over and over again, that the investment in quality early childhood care and education saves $ in the long term by reducing remediation, incarceration, dropout rates, and on and
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I suggest support for model early childhood lab sites on cc campuses and help to promote the Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education as a viable option for early childhood teaching requirements.
The research shows us over and over again, that the investment in quality early childhood care and education saves $ in the long term by reducing remediation, incarceration, dropout rates, and on and on. With budgets tightening, some cc's are closing their child development centers. Not only do these wonderful programs provide a quality care and learning environment for the children of students, faculty, staff and community members, but most serve as the model for students being trained as teachers in the early childhood profession. And, the campus child care programs help with retention and graduation rates for college student parents.
Funding is needed to help support these programs that provide such a far reaching service for children and families. Also, the Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education is two years of primarily discipline specific education that is too often overlooked as a solution to the shortage of early childhood teachers. If universal preschool is to become a reality in all states, then it would be prudent to consider the AAS in ECE as meeting the education requirement for an early childhood teacher. Not because early childhood teachers should have "less" qualifications than any other age or grade level teacher, but because in reality, four years does not “magically” create a better teacher. Education is important, of course, but the quality of early childhood teachers with an AAS degree and access to a model lab experience, are equally, or in some cases, better prepared, than some teachers with a BS degree and teacher certification. Example: There are articulation agreements for the AAS in ECE to a Bachelors Degree at some universities, but the AAS degree for Head Start teachers was totally overlooked. Head Start (HS) requires their teaching staff to get an AA degree or a CDA (an AAS degree in ECE was not considered as an option) with a deadline for obtaining a Bachelors degree and what is happening? Head Start teachers are obtaining teaching certification and leaving Head Start to work in school districts where salaries and benefits are better. So this exacerbates the problem of high turnover in the field of early childhood, which is not conducive to the quality that is so desperately needed.
Our communities need well trained early childhood teachers. The AAS degree in Early Childhood Education offered by many community colleges should be considered as a viable option for lead teacher requirements. The reality is that this would be a way to secure quality teaching staff at less cost over hiring teachers with a four year degree.
There is always talk about what is needed to create a better future for our country. More math, more science, longer school hours, etc. Important issues to ponder, but what the research tells us and what common sense dictates, is that quality early childhood education lays the foundation for a child's success as an adult in all aspects of his or her life. Early childhood education creates a love of learning in children that encourages involvement in the learning domains. Early childhood also promotes positive social skills that are essential to everything a human being encounters in life.
Children attend child care programs sometimes five days a week, 8 to 10 hours a day. Early childhood programs are helping to shape our children. Therefore, all children should have access to high quality programs. Sadly, quality programs are the exception, rather than the rule. There is, of course, a $ cost for quality. But, for the future of our nation, there is a larger cost for not investing in quality early childhood programs.
Community colleges have been instrumental in raising the bar for quality in early childhood care and education. The CC’s can, and should, continue to play a major role in helping to shape the quality of child care programs. The AAS in ECE and the child development center lab sites work in conjunction to serve as the model programs and training grounds for future early childhood teachers. Hopefully, as budgets are reduced, those in the position to make the tough decisions remember that the future really is now when it comes to early childhood care and education.
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