Early Childhood Curriculum Specialist/Transitional Kindergarten Certificate

This certificate provides students who are interested in becoming Transitional Kindergarten teachers with the necessary Early Childhood Education units required by the Department of Education to fulfill the requirements of the position. It provides in-depth knowledge of the California Preschool Learning Foundations and Frameworks (with which all Transitional Kindergarten curriculum must be aligned), as well as instruction in effective behavior management strategies, strategies for working with children from diverse cultural backgrounds, and knowledge of how to create high-quality learning environments for young children. This program is designed both for credentialed teachers who want to earn the early Childhood Education units necessary to qualify as a transitional Kindergarten teacher and for current preschool teachers who want to deepen their understanding of the Preschool Foundations and Frameworks. Teachers from both groups who enroll in this certificate program will receive robust professional development, particularly focused on curriculum development across the content areas. They will also meet California Community Care Licensing requirements to work as a preschool teacher, and qualify for the Associate Teacher California Child Development Permit. A minimum grade of “C” in each course is required to earn the certificate and/or qualify for the Child Development Permit.

Program Learning Outcomes

1.      Explain the roles of the California Preschool Learning Foundations and Frameworks in the education of young children and their relationship to the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), and Content Standards for California Public Schools (kindergarten).

2.      Plan environments, opportunities and family engagement to support children’s learning and development in all content areas.

3.      Apply ethical standards and professional behaviors that demonstrate understanding of the needs, the characteristics and multiple influences on the development of children birth to age eight as related to high quality care and education of young children.

5-10 students are projected to complete this program annually.

Transitional Kindergarten is a new public school grade level designed to help transition children who have birthdays just before the kindergarten enrollment cut-off date. All school districts are required to offer this grade level. Transitional Kindergarten teachers must have a teaching credential in addition to 24 units of Early Childhood Education courses to qualify to teach this new grade level. In addition, they must be prepared to align Transitional Kindergarten curriculum with the California Preschool Learning Foundations and Frameworks. In this certificate program students will gain the skills, competencies and knowledge necessary to be successful Transitional Kindergarten teachers. The courses that the students will complete will give them a strong foundation in the knowledge of early childhood development and behavior guidance strategies, as well as in-depth familiarity with the California Preschool Learning Foundations and Frameworks and the ability to apply that knowledge in creating learning environments and experiences for young children. 

Teachers in preschool settings who earn this certificate will gain valuable and robust professional development that will enhance their employability as well as their ability to move up the wage scale. They will also meet California Community Care Licensing requirements to work as a preschool teacher, and qualify for the Associate Teacher California Child Development Permit. 

Required Core Courses

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
ECD 30	California Preschool Learning Foundations: English Language Development	1
ECD 31	Performing Arts: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 32	Math: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 33	Science: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 34	Literacy: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 35	Social and Emotional Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 36	Visual Arts: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 37	Health: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 38	History-Social Science: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 39	Physical Development: Preschool Foundations	1
ECD 41	Strategies for Working with Challenging Behaviors	3
ECD 56	Child Growth and Development	3	S1

Plus 3 courses from the following list:

ECD 59 Literacy in Early Childhood     3 units

ECD 60 Introduction to the Young Child With Exceptional Needs      3 units

ECD 62 Child, Family and Community     3 units

ECD 69 Child Study: Observation and Assessment     3 units

ECD 79 Teaching in a Diverse Society     3 units

In addition to providing the opportunity for credentialed teachers to qualify to teach Transitional Kindergarten, teachers already working in preschools will benefit from the professional development opportunities this certificate sequence offers, as it focuses on the Foundations and Frameworks, (including courses on English language development and Social and Emotional Learning) and includes a course on behavior guidance (often requested by both experienced and novice teachers). In addition, depending on the options selected, students can focus on cultural competency, working with students with special needs or a deeper study of literacy development. Teachers with this coursework could become curriculum specialists at their worksite. Finally, the early childhood community is striving to actively improve the measurable quality of its programs; one way it does that is by measuring the education level of directors and administrators. In Quality Counts, the Quality Rating and Improvement System for Alameda County, preschools are rated on seven criteria, one of which is Teacher Qualifications. The rating matrix awards higher point totals to teachers who have at least 24 units of ECE. Teachers who complete this certificate and participate in Quality Counts would be able to help their site improve their rating, and therefore qualify for quality rewards funding.

Cabrillo College offers a Certificate of Achievement in Curriculum Planning. Paul Harvell dean of Humanities and Social Sciences - HASS Division and ECE Department Chair Jean Gallagher-Heil have been notified; we have not yet had a response. Las Positas College has an Early Childhood Education program, Dean Don Carlson, of Social Sciences, Library, Public Safety and Career Education has been contacted, and no response has been received yet. At Merritt College, Child Development co-chairs Jennifer Briffa and Christine Olsen have been contacted, and no response received yet.