Early Childhood Education Courses

Early Childhood Education Classes          

The Early Childhood Education Program is a series of classes grouped together that allows students the opportunity to earn credentials for employment as a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten instructor, Child Development Specialists, Preschool Teacher, Child Care Teacher Aide or Child Care Worker.

The program consists of 600 hours (120 hours of classroom instruction and 480 hours of direct work with young children).  Our students have available to them four occupational completion points which result in the issuance of a Florida Department of Education Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC) to program completers.  (Prior to April of 2007 the ECPC certification was known as the CDAE).  The ECPC is the accepted document needed for the DCF Staff Credential.  Students who complete the program also earn nine college credits within an articulation agreement with Broward Public Schools and Broward Community College.  High achieving students earn the Florida Gold Seal Scholarship which will pay for 75% tuition in a public institution or provide a fixed amount for private institutions allowing funding for students to obtain their college degree.  Students are encouraged to see their guidance counselor as soon as possible.

The Early Childhood Education Program focuses on development of transferable skills and stresses understanding and demonstration of the following elements of the Early Childhood industry: planning, management, finance, technical and production skills; underlying principles of technology; labor, community, health, safety, and environmental issues: developmentally appropriate practices for children birth through age eight.  Instruction and review is provided to assist students in readiness for mandated (DCF) Department of Children and Families 45-hour Child Care Training testing.  Classroom instruction for the American Red Cross infant/child/adult CPR/AED & first aid certification is provided within the first term of ECE2 &3 for all students. 

Classroom instruction and learning activities in a laboratory setting using hands-on experiences with the equipment and materials appropriate to the program content and in accordance with high quality standards in the field offers students exceptional opportunities. During internship/field experience each student is engaged in the application of theory working with young children, developing lesson plans, presenting and evaluating special projects and developmentally appropriate learning activities. This unique combination of classroom and laboratory instruction prepares students in the use of manipulative equipment: language development; creative art, music, science, dramatic play, developmentally appropriate practices, brain research, classroom management and establishing early childhood/ child development competencies.  Observation and supervised work experience with young children in a school laboratory or a community setting are an integral part of this program.  Students and their parents work with the high school instructor to determine the best possible internship placement.  Internship/field experience is available on our campus in the early childhood education learning laboratory or at one of twenty-one DCF licensed child care facilities, or elementary schools within our Innovation Zone. 

Students in ECE4 working in our community or learning laboratory with young children are compensated for work performed.  Power-of-One projects and student membership in FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) is an integral leadership development component of ECE4 instruction designed to reinforce specific career and technical skills and to positively impact the lives of children in our community.  The development of a Professional Resource File and completion of the 45-hour DCF Child Care Training testing are necessary components for earning the Early Childhood Education Professional Certification (ECPC). 

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