Early Childhood, Education, and Services I students prepare to be primary providers of child care services. Students plan, organize, and conduct learning experiences that provide safe and healthy learning environments; promote physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development; utilize curricula responsive to children’s needs; and promote family engagement. Students examine local, state, and federal regulations for early childhood education and services environments and professional expectations for early childhood education and services professionals. Coursework prepares students for balancing work and family, identifying education and training requirements, and entering careers in the education and training and human services career clusters. Contextual instruction and student participation in co-curricular career and technical student organization (CTSO) activities will develop leadership, interpersonal, and career skills. High-quality work-based learning (HQWBL) will provide experiential learning opportunities related to students' career goals and/or interests, integrated with instruction, and performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.

Students will have the opportunity to earn the AAFCS Early Childhood Education Credential, https://www.aafcs.org/credentialing/pre-pac/portfolio/ecean industry-recognized credential.  

The Early Childhood Education credential emphasizes the knowledge and skills necessary for success in early childhood education careers in childcare, teaching, community-based children’s programs, social services or counseling for children and after-school programs.

The Early Childhood Education credential is aligned to content standards developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Dual Enrollment Opportunity: 

College Credit: This program has the option of being Dual Enrolled with CVCC.  Upon successful completion, the student will receive six hours of college credit from Central Virginia Community College. (CHD120/CHD165) 

Mrs. Allison Burns