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A TCHS student wearing a blue polo smiles in front of a colorful %22Circle Time Center%22 board, which includes sections for the date, days of the week, weather, and counting activities. The board is part of an early childhood education setting.

Early Childhood Care & Education, preparing students to nurture young minds and build a bright future.

The demand for early childcare professionals with professional degrees and industry-recognized credentials is rapidly growing. Being good with kids can turn into a career in the Early Childhood Care & Education program, which prepares students to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) national credential.

female student wearing TCHS uniform smiles while reading book to two elementary-aged children. They are in an early education setting.

Course Description and Career Skills 

This program prepares individuals for careers in early childhood education by providing comprehensive training in child development, classroom management, health and safety, curriculum design, and family and community engagement. Students learn to create safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environments for infants through school-age children, incorporating standards-based lesson planning, observation, and assessment. The program emphasizes professionalism, ethical conduct, and advocacy, while offering hands-on clinical experience in a variety of settings, including inclusive and special needs classrooms. Participants gain skills in guiding children’s social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and language development, fostering creativity, literacy, and positive self-concept, and applying best practices in health, nutrition, and safety.

The various skill career levels for technical college high school: beginning, intermediate, advanced.

Program Opportunities

Certifications

  • Child Development Associate (CDA-Ready) 
  • CPR/First Aid Certificate
  • Pennsylvania Skills Certificate
  • PSU Better Kid Care New Staff Orientation
  • PSU Better Kid Care Health & Safety Training

College Credits

 

Workplace Opportunities

Some notable partners include:

Flanagan’s Preschool, YMCA of Greater Brandywine, Downingtown East High School, and more!

 

Tour the Program

CIP 19.0708

The Department of Education provides a CIP Code to approved Programs of Study (POS). Schools and postsecondary institutions use the CIP code to categorize the POS, outline the scope and sequence of educational offerings, and develop a POS task list. Review the task list.