EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Early childhood education is a fascinating and dynamic field that focuses on children’s growth and development between the ages of birth and age 8. Early childhood professionals recognize that children have predictable stages of development and learn best through active play and by developing relationships with their peers and the adults around them.
Kellogg Community College’s Early Childhood Education Program aspires to teach individuals to become the best early childhood professionals possible, thereby increasing the quality of early childhood services in our communities.
KCC offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education as well as Child Development Associate (CDA) training. For more information about KCC’s Early Childhood Education Program, see:
- Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education
- Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education – ONLINE
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) course descriptions
- Early Childhood Education Brochure
- Early Childhood Education Program Information Guidelines
- Early Childhood Education Central Abuse and Neglect FAQs
- Early Childhood Education Internships
KCC’s ECE Program trains students to meet the state of Michigan’s Child Care Licensing Regulations for child care providers, federal mandates for Head Start teaching staff and the Michigan Department of Education Great Start Readiness training guidelines for preschool paraprofessionals.
Full- & Part-Time Programs
Students interested in attending as a full-time student to obtain an Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education should follow the current program map linked above. For a recommended four-semester sequence of ECE courses for part-time students seeking the Associated in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education, please contact the Early Childhood and Teacher Education Department at 269-565-2109.
Advising & Transfer
View transfer guides outlining opportunities for students looking to transfer their KCC credits to a four-year institution. Contact Academic Advising at 269-965-4124 or advising@kellogg.edu to schedule an appointment to plot a personal transfer plan or contact KCC’s Early Childhood and Teacher Education Department at 269-565-2109.
Additional Information
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Accreditation
The Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education at Kellogg Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The current accreditation term runs from March 2021 through March 2028.
NAEYC Outcome Measure 1 - Percentage of Program Completers
| Academic Year | Number of Program Completers | Percentage of Program Completers Attending Full-Time at Time of Completion | Percentage of Program Completers Attending Part-Time at Time of Completion |
Percentage of Program Completers Not Enrolled* at Time of Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA/20-SU/21 | 25 | 8% | 68% | 24% |
| FA/19-SU/20 | 28 | 14.29% | 64.29% | 21.42% |
| FA/18-SU/19 | 31 | 9.68% | 48.39% | 41.93% |
*Kellogg Community College does not require students to be currently enrolled in a given semester when they apply to graduate with an associate degree or certificate. These students are program/certificate completers and noted as "Not Enrolled".
NAEYC Outcome Measure 2 - Program Completion Rate
|
Academic Year in Which a Fall Cohort of Full-time Candidates Enrolled in the Program |
Percentage of Those Candidates Who Completed the Program Within 150% of Published Timeframe* |
Percentage of Those Candidates Who Completed the Program within 300% of Published Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| FA/15-SU/16 | 1.00% | 2.00% |
| FA/14-SU/15 | 1.00% | 1.00% |
| FA/13-SU/14 | 0% | 0% |
*The Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education degree can be obtained within two years, spanning four semesters.
NAEYC Outcome Measure 3 - Fall-to-Fall Retention Rate
| Academic Year |
Percent of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program |
Retention Rate Among Part-Time Candidates |
Percent of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program |
Retention Rate Among Full-Time Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA/20-FA/21 | 76.85% | 40.96% | 21.15% | 32.00% |
| FA/19-FA/20 | 76.47% | 25.64% | 23.53% | 41.67% |
| FA/18-FA/19 | 83.44% | 40.48% | 16.56% | 40.00% |
Mission
KCC's Early Childhood Education Program's mission is to prepare candidates:
- with the knowledge, practices and attitudes necessary to support young children’s healthy growth and development;
- to conduct themselves as early childhood professionals implementing ethical decision making and self-reflection;
- to lead and advocate for quality early childhood programming among their peers and in their communities;
- to recognize best practices and quality standards;
- to serve as a resource in the communities we serve; and
- to respect diverse families and to support each child.
Conceptual Framework
What do we value as a professional early childhood program? The ECE Program believes:
- Building positive relationships is an essential task and a foundational component of early childhood education.
- Curriculum should incorporate teaching modalities that focus on practice, reflection and research-based active learning experiences.
- Diversity is respected through equitable learning opportunities for all candidates to ensure each person’s strengths, cultural background, languages, abilities and experiences are valued.
- Candidates must have opportunity for hands-on experience and application to develop the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions required of all early childhood education professionals.
- Community engagement is crucial to ensuring positive, long-lasting residual effects amongst outcomes and overall effectiveness.
Flexible Classes & Hands-On Experience
Most of KCC’s Early Childhood Education courses are offered in the evening or online to meet the needs of nontraditional students, allowing students more flexibility in their class schedule. Additionally, students may take many ECE classes on campuses in Barry, Branch and Calhoun counties. KCC’s ECE students are diverse and busy, and KCC strives to provide courses that allow students convenience without limiting quality.
Every Early Childhood Education student at KCC student receives individualized advising. KCC’s ECE courses are hands-on and meaningful, and are taught by instructors who have up-to-date skills and knowledge, as many are actively working in the ECE field. Additional training opportunities including Child Development Associate (CDA) training and ECE internships.
