Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education

Explore the early childhood profession by interacting with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school children while designing, developing, and delivering early learning activities.

The Early Childhood Education Program at the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center introduces students to the theory and practice of working with young children.  Students develop professionalism skills to work with parents, colleagues, and community members, gain knowledge of developmental progression of children, and implement strategies to support both individual and group learning within the classroom setting.  Students have the opportunity to see their learning in action while experiencing each Early Childhood age group, infants, toddlers, preschooler, and young school age, through age group specific internships. 

student teacher reading to young girl
Program At a Glance:

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

Clearance Links for Accepted Students

Core Skills

  • PA 100 Orientation and Safety
  • PA 200 Professionalism
  • PA 300 Health and Safety
  • PA 400 Learning Environment (Physical Space)
  • PA 500 Child Development (Social, Emotion, Physical, Intellectual, Language Development)
  • PA 600 Classroom Management and Positive Guidance
  • PA 700 Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment
  • PA 800 Curriculum Development
  • PA 900 Learning Activities/Experiences
  • PA 1000 Program Partnerships
  • PA 1100 Clinical Experience
Full Early Childhood Education Certifications & Task List

Certifications You’ll Earn

Full list of Certifications included in Task List linked above

Students gain the necessary knowledge and skills to manage children’s safety, prevent illness and respond to emergencies while also obtaining certification for employment in child care centers.

Upon completion of the Early Childhood Program and high school graduation, students qualify to be employed as classroom assistants within child care centers in Pennsylvania licensed by the Department of Human Services managing, supervising and educating children ages birth to five years.

Students can prepare for an additional level of certification within the field by completing the Child Development Associate Resource Collection. This certification is started within the program and completed once the student has graduated and is employed in a child care center. Completion of the Child Development Associate allows students to become teachers in child care center classrooms with children birth to five years.

Career Pathways

Assistant Group Supervisor

Assist in a classroom with children ages birth to five years and/or provides before and after school care in a licensed child care facility.

Primary Classroom Aide

Assist in classrooms in an Elementary school to support teachers in supervision and curriculum delivery to children ages kindergarten through the beginning of fourth grade.

Elementary School Teacher

Attend to the basic needs of children, such as dressing, feeding, and overseeing play. They may help younger children prepare for kindergarten or assist older children with homework. *requires post-secondary education

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