1602 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (Pre- kindergarten - Grade 3)

1602.1 In addition to the general education requirements, for certification in early childhood education, the following shall be required:

1. (a) Satisfactory completion of a sequence of courses that include field work. Field work includes observation of children and adults in multiple settings and varying degrees of participation with children and families from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. A minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in the professional foundations and instructional knowledge areas that provide theoretical and research knowledge and practical skills in the following areas:
2. (1) Human development through the life span, with special emphasis on the learning process, cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development, both typical and atypical from birth through age eight (8);
3. (2) Historical, philosophical, psychological, and social foundations of early childhood education in relationship to early childhood education program models;
4. (3) Roles of the teacher as a reflective practitioner, facilitator, assessor, supervisor, researcher, communicator, and nurturer of young children, as well as a collaborator with colleagues; and
5. (4) Curriculum for teaching young children including coursework in observation and recording of young children's behavior in the following:
   1. (A) Assessment of the young child, goal setting, specifying goals to facilitate children's physical growth and development and skills in communication, inquiry, creative expression, and interpersonal relations;
   2. (B) Content-developmentally appropriate integrated learning experiences in health, safety, science, mathematics, social studies, language arts (listening, speaking, writing, reading), literature, art, music, drama, and movement;
   3. (C) Role of play in children's social-emotional, physical and cognitive development and selection of appropriate play materials;
   4. (D) Planning, managing and creating developmentally appropriate learning environments that incorporate concrete manipulative materials and play as instruments for enhancing development and learning of social, physical and logical mathematical knowledges;
   5. (E) Communication, conference techniques, interpersonal and intergroup relations and techniques, for working with parents, community and staff; and
   6. (F) Preparation for working in settings that include atypical children; understanding the needs of developmentally and culturally diverse children and recognizing conditions requiring

assistance from other professionals;

(b) Either of the following:

(1) Student teaching (six semester hours) consisting of a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) clock hours spent in each of two (2) different age groups preprimary and primary. The student teaching experience shall enable the student to do the following:

(A) Assume major responsibility for the full range of teaching duties;

(B) Receive supervision in exemplar settings by on-site personnel, as well as college faculty;

(C) Experience working with parents under supervision;

(D) Attend seminar meetings accompany student teaching to provide opportunity for analysis evaluation and discussion of field experiences; and

(E) Receive supervised experience in working with interdisciplinary teams of professionals where appropriate; or

(2) A minimum of one (1) year of satisfactory teaching experience under appropriate supervision at the early childhood level.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 28 DCR 3201 (July 17, 1981); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 6542 (October 24, 1986); and by Final Rulemaking published at 40 DCR 6893, 6896-97 (October 1, 1993).