Examines the role of the child care administrator in directing successful early childhood centers in a diverse and democratic society, following developmentally-appropriate practices. Topics include: diversity, policy development, personnel management, ethical decision-making, safety, community resources, childcare licensing regulations, communication strategies, professionalism, and appropriate business practices. Students will focus on critical conditions affecting families and explore ways to utilize school and community resources to develop meaningful home-school-community partnerships. Child Development Associate (CDA) functional areas covered in this course are as follows: Safe, Healthy, Learning Environment, Professionalism, and Program Management. This course can be used to satisfy part of the 120 clock hours of instruction required by the CDA Council. It can also be used as a CDA renewal course.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) for children birth to age five.
- Differentiate multiple differences of development related to the unique characteristics of the individual child in his/her social and cultural settings.
- Demonstrate the principles of child development and learning.
- Write policies that demonstrate DAP in relation to Individual Education Plans (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) requirements.
- Explain physical and social-emotional development with an emphasis on children in impoverished communities.
- Identify signs of family violence, child abuse, and neglect.
- Discuss community services to support children in peril.
- Skills necessary to be a successful administrator of a child care program
- Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism
- Discuss Child Care licensing laws.
- Identify and explain main points of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
- Evaluate health and nutrition policies.
- Community Resources: Linking families, school, and community
- Analyze the importance of family needs and community assets and apply this knowledge by facilitating reciprocal home-school partnerships.
- Communication strategies for a positive learning environment for children and families
- Develop and apply communication skills and strategies that promote an understanding of diverse families, resulting in positive and respectful relationships.
- Financial skills for child care center administration
- Demonstrate appropriate business skills.
- Describe future forecasting in regards to a child care center.
- Assess equipment in regards to needs of a child care center.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of academic achievement of the learning objectives for the course may include:
- Exams and quizzes on course content
- Written assignments assessing the core course objectives.
- Students will:
- Create a business plan and budget,
- Develop a community resource guide
- Analyze child care facility design
- Develop an annotated children’s bibliography on diverse families
- Select developmentally-appropriate equipment for a child care center
- Put together a video/power point presentation of a parent orientation
- Complete a Research paper explaining how quality impacts children's outcomes
- Interview a director in the profession and write a summary.
The following NAEYC Associate Degree Standards are met by this course at the understanding or application level:
1. Promoting Child Development and Learning:
* 1a: Knowing and understanding young children's characteristics and needs.
* 1b: Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on early development and learning.
2. Building Family and Community Relationships:
* 2a: Knowing about and understanding diverse families and communities.
4. Using Effective Approaches to Connect with Children and Families:
* 4a: Knowing, understanding, and using positive relationships.
6. Becoming a Professional:
* 6a: Identifying and involving oneself with the early childhood field.
* 6b: Knowing about and upholding ethical standards and other early childhood professional guidelines.
* 6c: Engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice; using technology effectively with young children, with peers and as a
professional resource.
* 6d: Integrating knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on early education.
Determined by the Department Lead Instructor.
Outcomes
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Students will submit a Credit for Prior College Level Learning application to records and registration.
The Children and Families program director will evaluate the following:
1. Transcripts from an accredited college verifying that s/he completed a course focusing on administration/management of early childhood programs.
2. Evidence of a minimum of 2 years experience working in the capacity of a licensed child care center director. The student will be required to provide an official letter (on letter head) from his/her place of employment verifying work experience.
All documentation should be sent to the attention of the Children and Families Program Director. The Children and Families Program Director will evaluate submitted documentation to determine eligibility of the student for CPCLL.