Associate in Science Degree in Early Childhood Education Site Supervisor

The associate in science degree in Early Childhood Education Site Supervisor prepares students for leadership career options in infant and toddler programs. childcare, preschool education, and before and after-school programs. Upon completion of this program, students will be eligible to apply for the Site Supervisor level permit on the Child Development Permit Matrix from the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Students will complete lower-division courses in child growth and development, principles and practices in early childhood education, curriculum, observation, assessment, child/family/ community relationships, diversity, health and safety, adult supervision, administration, and specialization coursework.

We anticipate that 20 students will choose this pathway and we will have 10 completers each year.  We believe we will capture additional students who don’t want to transfer and will choose to work towards this degree, rather than stopping at 15 Early Childhood Education units, which is the minimum unit requirement for Title 22 programs to be a center director coupled with 4 years of experience working in an early childhood program.  We believe that the students will find the coursework more relevant to their work and more compelling than what is offered in the AS-T degree, so that more students will actually complete an associate degree rather than stopping their education.

This degree supports Los Medanos College’s Strategic Plan Goals, specifically Goal 3 and Goal 4.

Goal 3: Increase opportunities that will prepare students to enter high-demand and living-wage occupational fields.

Although the field of ECE does not pay incredibly high wages, the wages have increased substantially since COVID.  Site Supervisors/Directors are at the top of the pay scale in early childhood education programs. Site Supervisors/Directors are at the top of the pay scale in early childhood education programs with salaries between $70,000 and $90,000 per year. With this offering attaining an associate degree in early childhood education is more accessible. 

Goal 4:  To better support students in accomplishing their academic and career goals – from entry to completion/transition – and to enhance course-level and program-level achievement, expand and deepen educational, workforce, and community partnerships.

This degree was envisioned by the YMCA and in consultation with EDvance. In addition, this degree received full support from our advisory committee, which includes other employers in East Contra Costa County such as the Community Service Bureau for Head Start, Little Angels Preschool, and the County Office of Education. 

For students who want to stay in the Early Childhood Education field from birth to five, this degree meets the needs of those students, to earn an associate degree in early childhood education and be employable for both Title 5 and Title 22 early childhood education programs as a site supervisor/director by providing the coursework necessary for students to earn the Site Supervisor Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

The Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education: Site Supervisor is a 60-unit degree with 35 units in Early Childhood Education combined with the California State General Education Pattern of 18-20 units. Up to 6 units may be double counted toward the 35-unit major coursework in the Local/College pattern and the degree can be achieved in 60 units.  Up to 13 elective units may be required to complete this degree.

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Diablo Valley College - Juan Huerta Villicana, Chair - No concerns | Contra Costa College - Michell Naidoo, Chair - No response