BLADEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

EDU 261: Early Childhood Administration I

Instructor Information:

 

Name:  Claudia A. Anderson                            Office: Building #1, Room 109

Telephone: W - (910) 879-5554                      Office Hours:  M- 10:00-11:00am;

E-mail: canderson@bladen.cc.nc.us                  1:00 -2:00pm ; T TH -11:00 am-12:00pm; 1:00-2:00pm

Course Information:

 

Section: 01

Meeting Time: MW,  9:10-10:100

Location:  Building #1, Room 123

 

Required text: Developing and Administering A Child Care Center, 5th Ed.,  By Dorothy June Sciarra & Anne G. Dorsey ( 2003). New York: Thomson Delmar Learning ISBN: 0-7668-3926-5

 

Credit:  2 credit hours

 

Course Description:

 

This course covers the policies, procedures, and responsibilities for the management of early childhood education programs. Topics include implementation of goals, principles of supervision, budgeting and financial management, and meeting the standards for NC Child Day Care license. Upon completion, students should be able to develop program goals, explain licensing standards, determine budgeting needs, and describe effective methods of personnel supervision.

 

Course Objectives:

 

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

  1. Develop and state a personal philosophy of early childhood education and family support.
  2. Develop program goals based on their philosophy of early childhood education and family support.
  3. Identify state licensing and sanitation regulations, and describe their purpose and their importance for maintaining program quality and a safe and healthy environment.
  4. Describe required and commonly used record-keeping practices of child care programs, and identify methods of efficient record-keeping.
  5. Describe key components of personnel policies that include at least eight of the following topics: program philosophy, program goals, hiring procedures, employee performance reviews, employee benefits, grounds for disciplinary action/dismissal, continuing professional development, overtime policy, and/or orientation procedures.
  6. Develop a written job description for teachers and other employees working in child care programs.
  7. Identify key legal issues relevant to child care programs including personnel/labor laws, reporting suspected child abuse and neglect, program liability, child custody, and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
  8. Identify key community and statewide organizations/agencies that are a resource for child care programs and the families they serve, and utilize information about these organizations in assisting families to access resources.
  9. Determine income and expense needs of a program, and develop a line-item budget based on these needs.

 

 

Course Requirements:

 

This is a hybrid course and as such will include some online assignments. These may take the form of homework assignments, assignments, quizzes or other requirements. When a class is not scheduled due to an online assignment, every student must login and complete the assignment as required, the same as they would be required to attend class. Not doing so will reduce the students participation grade.

 

Reading Assignments:  Reading assignments are expected to be completed in advance of the assigned week.  The student’s ability to participate in class discussions will give evidence of how current the student is with the reading.

 

Exams/quizzes:  Exams will be given throughout the course.  They will be listed in the course calendar.

 

Homework and Class work: There will be weekly homework assignments designed to provide practice with terms and concepts covered in the course to reinforce learning.  These assignments will be collected and graded.  Use of a computer or word processor is recommended but handwritten assignments will be accepted; therefore good penmanship is required.  Use blue or black ink. All assignments must be completed in the student’s own words and in complete sentences. Late papers will only be accepted if the absence has been excused.

 

Class Participation and Attendance:

 

·        Attendance at all scheduled class meetings is expected.

·        Lecture and in-class activities will be used to demonstrate important concepts and ideas. Full participation ensures a better understanding of the material.  Students should contact the instructor prior to class when they anticipate being absent.

·        Students whose absences exceed 20% of all scheduled contact hours may be dropped from the course by the instructor for excessive absences.  In such cases, re-admittance to class will be at the discretion of each instructor.

·        Attendance policies provided to students by individual instructors through course syllabi will reflect the existing policy of the college.

·        Students MUST turn off all cell phones in class. Cell phones may be put on VIBRATE ONLY if the student has a legitimate need. Students who refuse to comply will be asked to leave/or dropped from the class.

·         

Special Note: EDU 261 is one of two curriculum courses required for the North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential (NCECAC). In addition, to successful completion of administration coursework (EDU 261 and EDU 262), the NCECAC requires additional early childhood/child development coursework and a portfolio. The additional coursework and portfolio assignments are based on whether you are applying for Level I, Level II (AAS required) or Level III (BS/BA in Early Childhood required). Level I is required by law for administrators in early childhood centers licensed by the North Carolina Division of Child Development. When you have successfully completed EDU 261/262, you will have met the administration coursework requirements for all levels. Successful completion and demonstrated competency of all 18 portfolio assignments in these two courses will meet the portfolio requirements for all levels. For more information on the early childhood/child development coursework, visit The North Carolina Division of Child Development website at http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/general/home.asp

 

 

Evaluation:

 

Grades will be equally weighted and  assigned as follows:

 

90-100 = A

80-89 = B

70-79 = C

60-69 = D

59 and below = F

 

Assignment Information: All students of EDU 261 are required to complete the assignments for their portfolio. These must be turned in at the time they are assigned and due. They will be corrected and returned to the student at which time they will revise their assignment accordingly. The final portfolio must contain a description of the assignment, the original assignment with comments/corrections of the instructor and the final assignment with all corrections made. These must be placed in a 3-ring binder  or portfolio with dividers for each major section of the portfolio. The instructor will provide more information on how to organize your portfolio. DUE: November 30. (Because of the due date, the last two portfolio requirements will be graded only one time. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE CALENDAR

 

DATE

TOPICS

ASSIGNMENT

8/17

Introduction. Overview of course. Review of text & major assignments.

Pretest

8/24

Personal Philosophy & Program Goals

Reading: pp. 35-37

 

8/31

Personal Philosophy & Program Goals

BLACKBOARD

Reading:

Portfolio: Personal Philosophy/Mission & Goals

9/7

Rules & Regulations

 

Reading: pp. 4-8

Portfolio:Ongoing Training Form

9/14

Rules & Regulations

 

Reading: pp. 12 & 13

Portfolio: Responding to A Complaint

9/21

Rules & Regulations

BLACKBOARD

Reading: pp. 263-264

Portfolio: Orientation Plan

9/28

Program & Personnel Policies

Reading: pp. 241-317

Portfolio:Job Description

10/5

Program & Personnel Policies

Reading: pp. 241-317

Portfolio: Interview Procedures

FALL BREAK OCTOBER 11-13, 2004

10/19

Program & Personnel Policies

BLACKBOARD

Reading:pp. 241-317

Portfolio: Newspaper Ad

10/26

Legal Issues

Reading: pp. 95-118

Assignment: Board Interview

11/2

Legal Issues

BLACKBOARD

Reading: pp. 382-383

Assignment: Child Abuse Reporting Policy

11/9

Developing Parent & Community Relations

Reading: pp. 515-524

Portfolio:Professional Organizations

11/16

Developing Parent & Community Relations

Reading:

Portfolio: Resource File

11/23

Developing Parent & Community Relations -BLACKBOARD

Reading: pp. 320-327

Portfolio:Plan for Open House

11/30

Financial Management

Reading: pp. 119-171

Portfolio:Center Budget/Funding Strategies

*FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE

12/7

Financial Management

Reading: 119-171

Posttest

EXAMS DECEMBER 8-14, 2004