early childhood education

program information

Early Childhood Education Program Overview

The Early Childhood Education Program focuses on broad, 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; and developmentally appropriate practices for children birth through age eight.

Program Structure: The program consists of 600 hours (120 hours of classroom instruction and 480 hours of direct work with children) with four occupational completion points which results in the issuance of a Florida Department of Education Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC). It is acceptable for a student to begin this program in high school and then continue/complete the program at a Technical Center. Students must complete the mandated DCF (Department of Children and Families) child care training courses and pass the competency exams on those courses to be awarded the ECPC at program completion. The ECPC is accepted for the DCF Staff Credential.

Instruction and learning activities are provided 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. 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. Observation and supervised work experience with young children in a school laboratory or a community laboratory setting are an integral part of this program. To meet ECPC status, a student must obtain the 480 hours of direct work with children five years or younger in a laboratory or child care setting while they are enrolled in the program.