The Early Childhood Education career path introduces students to the foundational skills needed in working with young children, ages birth to 5 years.
Students will be introduced to the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care for young children and broaden opportunities for promotion and career enhancement.
This program may be for you if you are interested in working with young children, providing daycare, or teaching pre-school.
In this program, students will study positive guidance strategies to help children develop and grow healthy relationships and become problem solvers.
Students study and develop strategies for implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children. In addition, students learn health, safety and nutritional aspects in providing well-rounded care for young children.
Courses available in the Early Childhood Education program include:
Students in Early Childhood Education may earn the Child Development Certificate upon completion of 17 credit hours. The Early Childhood Certificate is designed to enhance the quality of child care experiences by increasing and recognizing the competence of those who care for and educate young children.
Early Childhood career path is designed for students who want to enter the field or are currently in the field but need additional education in order to provide quality care and broaden opportunities for promotion and career enhancement.Earning a Child Development Certificate increases opportunities for career advancement in addition to degree advancement through the Early Childhood Diploma and the Early Childhood Studies AAS program at a community college. Child care workers are in extreme shortage in America.
Entry-Level Wages
Iowa Job Openings
Income Potential
Madelyn Placek, Woodbine Sophomore, chose the Early Childhood Education Pathway to gain valuable hands-on experience and on-site training to prepare her for a career in education.
Madelyn currently works at Building Blocks Academy in Woodbine and truly enjoys spending time with young children.
She is excited about the opportunity to graduate from Woodbine High School with the Child Development Certificate as it will help provide numerous employment opportunities in the future.
In her Condition of the State address, January 2022, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced a new fast track program for teaching and paraeducators. The grant program will provide opportunities for current high school students to earn a paraeducator certificate and associates degree and paraeducators to earn their bachelor's degree all while learning and working in the classroom. The program will begin in the 2022-2023 school year.
“This is a transformational opportunity that puts our schools at the center of growing their future workforce,” said Gov. Reynolds. “I can’t think of a better place to recruit our future generations of teachers and paraeducators than in our own classrooms. Through this first-in-the-nation experience today, we'll be shaping our educators of tomorrow.” Leaders of IGNITE are exploring opportunities to begin this program soon.
