Certificate of Achievement Early Childhood Education: Associate Teacher Infant and Toddler

This program provides foundational skills in the care of infants and toddlers. Students gain knowledge of young children’s physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional growth and development, how to create partnerships with families to provide culturally consistent and respectful care, and how to develop holistic play-based curriculum. Students will learn how to develop child care environments that are responsive to the needs of young children and skills for responsive interactions. Learning will be grounded in child development theories and knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice.

Students who complete the Certificate of Achievement meet the requirements to become a fully qualified associate teacher according to the Child Development Permit Matrix issued by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Community Care Licensing, Title 22. Additionally, students will have the infant and toddler units mandated by Title 22 to work with children under 3 years of age. Students who wish to work with young children must pass a criminal record fingerprint clearance and show proof of immunization at the time of employment.

The Certificate of Achievement can be obtained by completing all the courses required for this major with a minimum grade of C or better. This is an 18-unit major

We are projecting the number of students to complete the certificate is 15

Students who complete the Certificate of Achievement meet the requirements to become a fully qualified associate teacher according to the Child Development Permit Matrix issued by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Community Care Licensing, Title 22. Additionally, students will have the infant and toddler units mandated by Title 22 to work with children under 3 years of age. Students who wish to work with young children must pass a criminal record fingerprint clearance and show proof of immunization at the time of employment.

The Certificate of Achievement can be obtained by completing all the courses required for this major with a minimum grade of C or better. This is an 18-unit major

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
ECHD 120	Introduction to Principles and Practices	3	Y1
ECHD 121	Child Growth and Development	3	Y1
ECHD 124	Curriculum Development	3	Y1
ECHD 220	The Child, Family and Community	3	Y1
ECHD 150	Infant and Toddler Development	3	Y1
ECHD 152	Care and Education for Infants and toddlers	3	Y1

This program is needed due to the undersupply of infant and toddler care teachers compared to the demand for infant and toddler care teachers in our community. Upon completing this program, students will have developed the necessary skills to work with young children between ages 2- 5 but they will also gain the skills to be competent and caring infant and toddler teachers. Furthermore, for students seeking a Masters Teacher child development permit, they can use these two infant and toddler classes offered in this certificate as their required 6 unit specialty.

We contacted local colleges in the service area and received replies in support of our program. Solano Community College - Anthony Ayala replied "I 100% endorse this certificate. It makes sense for both the labor needs as well as the funding formula presented by the chancellors office" San Jose City College - Madhavi Sudarsana replied "A wonderful idea. I don't think that many colleges have that. We just have 6 units in infant toddler".