Elbert County Campus
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Early Childhood Care and Education
Programs
Diploma Program
The Diploma Program in Early Childhood Care and Education prepares students to work with infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and their families.
Associate Degree
The Associate Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education prepares students to work with infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and their families, plus with school-age children as assistants in public school systems or in after-school or summer programs.
Both the Diploma Program and Associate Degree provide the 120-contact hours of training required for the Child Development Associate (CDA)*.
Early Childhood Care and Education Basics Technical Certificate of Credit
The ECE Basics TCC Program is designed to meet the training needs of persons already working in the field of early care and education. This program is designed to provide the minimum formal training in early care and education competencies, knowledge, skills and techniques required to apply for a CDA*.
*Child Development Associate (CDA)
The Child Development Associate credential is not issued by the technical college but by the Council for Early Childhood Recognition in Washington, D.C. It must be applied for and paid for separately from this program.
Educational requirements for the CDA state that candidates must complete 120-clock hours of formal child-care education within the past five years, with no fewer than 10 hours in each of the following subject areas:
- Planning a safe, healthy learning environment;
- Implementing steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual growth;
- Identifying positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development and providing positive guidance;
- Developing strategies to establish productive relationships with families;
- Maintaining a commitment to professionalism;
- Observing and recording the behavior of children;
- Understanding the principles of child growth and development; and ensuring well-run, purposeful programs that are responsive to participant’s needs.
Once achieved, the CDA is recognized nationally by Head Start and, in Georgia, by State Pre-K programs and many other public and private early care and education providers.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this program qualify as day care center teachers, lead teachers in Pre-K programs, directors or teachers’ assistants in public school systems or special needs facilities, home day care or group day care providers, and nannies.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit:
Completed and signed application for admission and nonrefundable application fee;
Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past; and Valid ASSET, COMPASS, SAT, or ACT test scores.
Persons enrolling in the Technical Certificate of Credit - Child Development Associate I program must have completed a minimum of 480 hours of work in the field with young children.
Prior to enrolling in a lab course, students must provide the following documentation:
- Satisfactory criminal record check (Georgia law prohibits the placement of persons with criminal records in childcare facilities. Because employment options may be severely limited in the early childhood profession, applicants who receive unsatisfactory criminal records checks are discouraged from pursuing the Early Childhood Care and Education program of study and may need to consider other options).
- Verification of liability insurance;
- Basic cardiac life support and first aid training; and
- Verification of health and accident insurance.
Malpractice Insurance
Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Care and Education program must have malpractice insurance, and they may purchase this insurance at the Business Office on the Elbert County Campus. The group policy runs from July 1 through June 30 regardless of the date of payment by students. The insurance company does not prorate student payments.
Curriculum
Diploma Program |
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73 quarter credit hours |
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General Core
Essential Fundamental Occupational Core
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Essential Specific Occupational Courses
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| Associate Degree Program | |
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General Education
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OR
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Professional Core
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Professional Major
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Contacts
Leslie Malanoski, Early Childhood Care
and Education Instructor, lmalanoski@athenstech.edu
or (706) 213-2124