ECED 263 Foundations of Early Childhood Education Dr. Patricia Pinciotti

Becoming an ESU Pre K-4 Teacher Syllabi Admittance to Pre K 4 Program Beginning Educator Portfolio – Next Tuesday Materials 1 ½ Binder, 5 dividers, Plastic sleeves (10-20) Copy in a Plastic Sleeve: Student Evaluation, PRAXIS I, 3 Clearance, TB

Housekeeping Assignments: For Tuesday Reading: Essential! Chapter One & Chapter Two Check it out! Find two interesting items on each website Place them in Concertina Book ESU College of Education NAEYC – check out website National Head Start website Pennsylvania State Aligned System - PASAS

Continuity and Change in Early Childhood Education Chapter 1

ECE ~ A rewarding profession Why are you here? People Search Why do ECE Educators stay in the field? They know their work makes a difference in the lives of children and families

What is Early Childhood Education? Highly diverse field that serves children from birth through age 8 In PA – Birth through grade 4 ECE teachers are professionals They make decisions based on a specialized body of knowledge Continue to learn through their career Committed to providing the best care and education possible for every child

A Field on the RISE… Early childhood benefits from Increasing public recognition Respect Funding 7 out of 10 voters wanted state and local government to provide prekindergarten for all children ECE programs essential for school readiness and long- term success in life

The Landscape of ECE ECE language consistent with National Association for the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC) Founded in 1962, located in Washington DC Mission is to act on behalf of the needs, rights, and well- being of young children from birth to age 8. Early Childhood Education Standards Preparation of Teachers at every level Administration of an Accreditation system Professional Development: Resources, Publications, Conferences

Early Childhood Educators NAEYC ~ Work with various groups: Infants and toddlers: birth to 36 months Preschoolers: 3-4 year olds Kindergartners: 5-6 year olds Primary grades 1, 2, and 3: 6-7-8 year olds PA ~ Work with various groups: Primary grades 1, 2, 3 and 4: 6-7-8-9 year olds

Head Start/Early Start Family Child Care Homes Types of Early Childhood Settings Schools K – 4th Public Charter Private Head Start/Early Start 3-4-5 year olds in centers & homes-based programs Infant-toddlers & families Income –eligible families Preschools 3, 4, & 5 year olds Private or public Pre Kindergarten Parent cooperative Laboratory school Family Child Care Homes Birth – school-age Caregiver’s Home Individuals and groups Child Care Centers For-profit or nonprofit Infants/toddlers Ages 3, 4, & 5 Before-and after school for school-aged children

Child Care Typically refers to care and education provided for young children during the hours that their parents are employed Type types of group programs: Child care centers Family child care homes Before and after school care Infants through age 9 Funded by parent tuition or subsidized for low-income families

Preschool Serves children 3 & 4 prior to kindergarten Operators: Churches, temples, or other faith-based organizations Parent cooperatives Laboratory school Other names: Nursery school, Pre Kindergarten, Child Care Center Funding: Parent tuition – more middle-upper income families Public funding- more low income families Public Pre K programs and Head Start and

Public Prekindergarten Pre K – preschools funded by the state and local departments of education Fastest growing sector of the field 1980 96,000 preschoolers By 2005 increase of over 1 million children Primary purpose: To improve schools readiness National Education Goals Panel, 1995 include: Physical development, health and safety Social-emotional development and learning Cognitive development & general knowledge (math/science) Positive approaches to learning - curiosity and motivation Language development and early literacy skills including the arts

Head Start Federally funded, national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children ages 3, 4, & 5. Provides educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to the nations poorest children and families Parent involvement essential component - volunteering, governance, move out of poverty 12% of Head Start enrollment is children with disabilities; 33% speak a language other than English Early Head Start (1995) serves low-income pregnant mothers, infants and toddlers & healthy family functioning

Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Serves children with disabilities or special needs who meet eligibility guidelines that are determined on a state-by-state basis, according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Early Intervention – services for infants and toddlers who are at risk of developmental delay and their families Inclusion – Participation and services for children with disabilities and special needs in programs and settings where their typically developing peers are served.

Kindergarten and Primary Grades Kindergarten – first year of formal schooling Enrolling 5 & 6 year olds; legal entrance age varies Primary Grades – first, second and third (fourth in PA) where they acquire the fundamental abilities of reading and mathematics along with the foundation of other academic disciplines Good foundation = less likely to struggle Learning to read….then read to learn Choice: within districts and in Charter Schools

Early Childhood Expansion 1965 – 60% of 5 year olds went to school; Today 95% 1960 – 10% of 3 & 4s enrolled in ECE programs; 2005 – 60% are in some type of preschool program Increased demand: Preschool is now the beginning of school whether mothers are employed or not Related to increased demand for working families 63% of women/child under 6 in labor force 59% of women/child under 3 in labor force

Access to ECE programs Young children who live in poverty – less likely to attend preschool than middle or higher income families 89% ($100,00) compared to 55% ($20,000-30,000) Head Start and state funded Pre K programs increased participation rates for low income families – serve only about 60% Variations in Participation Mothers education – 87% of college grads vs 55% high school dropouts Ethnicity of 4 year olds: 75% African Americans, 69% white children; 59% Hispanic