Early Childhood Education Program Student Handbook 2020-2021 - Mid Michigan College
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Early Childhood Education Program
Student Handbook
2020-2021Table of Contents Welcome…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1 Academic Pathways and Articulation……………………………………………………………………….… 2 ECE Student Organization…………………………………………………………………………………………...3 Student Requirements…………………………………………………………………………………………………4 Policies and Procedures……………………………………………………………………………………………….5 Field Experiences and Lab Placements…………………………………………………………………………6 Visiting the Lab Site………………………………………………………………………………………………..……7 NAEYC Professional Standards and Competencies…………………………….….……..……………...9 Capstone Portfolio………………………………………………………………………………………………………10 CDA Information……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…11 Scholarship Assistance…………………………………………………………………………………….……….….11 Signature Page……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12
Welcome to the MMC Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program Dear ECE Student, The ECE Team is here to support you as you work to gain the knowledge and skills needed for success in the field of early education. Students completing this program are prepared to enter careers or begin advanced training in the field. ECE instructors are experienced early childhood education professionals who have dedicated themselves to preparing the next generation for this exciting career path. ECE courses provide effective professional preparation for students to work in educational roles that do not require teacher licensure. Course credits earned often transfer into bachelor degree early childhood and child development programs at participating universities. Refer to this handbook throughout your ECE educational journey to help you stay in the know about program requirements and guidelines. The information in this handbook is subject to revision as necessary. Mid Michigan College is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, origin, sex, age, or disability. Best Wishes, Julie Ehle, MS Program Coordinator jehle@midmich.edu 989-386-6641
-1- ECE Academic Pathways Please click on the links provided to view the ECE Program website and Program Guides. Early Childhood Education- Associate in Applies Science Early Childhood Education- Certificate of Achievement Articulation Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District (CGRESD), Iosco County Career Technology, Mecosta Career and Technical Education (MOCC), Montcalm Area Career and Technical Education (MACC), and Clinton County Regional Education Service Agency (CCRESA) students have the opportunity to transfer their education classes to Mid Michigan College. Initiating the transfer process is the responsibility of the student. MMC holds articulation agreements with Central Michigan University and Ferris State University. For more information, click here: MMC Transfer Information
-2- Early Childhood Organization (EChO) Student Group Md Michigan College ECE Program established a student club in 2009 to increase opportunities for professional development and networking. Membership is open to all MMC students. Student clubs provide a place where students learn to operate as a team as they set and reach goals. Most employers indicate that teamwork is the fundamental mode of operation. Participating in a club and holding a position of leadership indicates to potential employers that the student is willing to show initiative and work beyond the parameters of simply being a student. Participation demonstrates the skills necessary to be successful in any workplace. Volunteer work demonstrates a willingness to give back to your community and is an indication of character, generosity, and sense of humanity. Most businesses feel so strongly about volunteerism that they create opportunities for employees to participate in volunteer work during operating hours, or as a work-related event. Consider this! When a potential employer is reviewing two resumes that are comparable item by item, but only one of the candidates has participated in ongoing volunteer work, the candidate who volunteers often gets the opportunity to interview for the open position. For more information about EChO, contact your ECE instructor, ECE Program Coordinator, or MMC Student Club Coordinator.
-3-
Student Requirements
Minimum Grade Requirement
The Early Childhood Education Program Advisory Board has stated that a minimum grade of C (2.0) must be
achieved by each student in every ECE course to receive the Child Development Certificate, and in every course
required for the ECE Associate Degree. This requirement is in place to ensure that we are graduating competent,
qualified early childhood professionals.
Health Requirements
Students must have a TB test completed yearly during the time the student is participating in ECE course field
experiences and placements. Though not required by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Child Care Licensing Division, the ECE program considers it best practice for individuals working with children in
licensed settings. A copy of the TB test must be on file with the MMC ECE Program Coordinator. This
requirement must be renewed every year and not set to expire during a semester of field work or placement. No
ECE student is permitted to attend a lab site without completing this requirement first.
Validation of No Evidence of Child Abuse or Neglect, National Sex Offender and ICHAT
Background Searches
ECE students must obtain a current Central Registry Clearance from their county Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS) office which verifies they have no history of abuse/neglect. This requirement must be
renewed by the student every two (2) years and not set to expire during a semester of field work or placement.
No ECE student is permitted to attend a lab site without completing this requirement first.
Applications are available online at DHHS Central Registry Clearance Form (12-13).
No student may be present in a center if he/she has been convicted of a sex offense, misdemeanor or felony as
described in the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Child Care Licensing Rules and
Regulations. ICHAT and National Sex Offender registry searches are completed by the ECE Program Coordinator
at no cost to the student. Students who do not pass background searches are not eligible for the ECE program.
CPR/First Aid
We recommend that students have Pediatric CPR and First Aid instruction when working with children. ECE 160,
a full certification course in Pediatric CPR First Aid and AED, is available to students as a program elective credit.
-4-Policies and Procedures
General Information
The career you have embarked on is a service profession, and the children and families you work with are the
most important focus of your future career. Your ability to function effectively as a member of a child caring
team determine your success to a great extent. Your conduct in College courses, as a worker or volunteer in the
field, as well as after graduation, represents not only you but the Early Childhood Education Program, Mid
Michigan College, and the profession as a whole. The following information is to help guide you toward
accomplishment as a member of the early childhood education community.
Professional Conduct
Students must be aware at all times of the importance of professional conduct, and adhere to a high standard of
professionalism. Students are to maintain a professional appearance, conduct themselves appropriately, and
communicate in a professional manner at all times. Students must make every effort to ensure that their overall
performance is to the best of their ability and a good reflection on the lab site, the ECE Program, Mid Michigan
College, and the early childhood education profession. Confidentiality of information related to children,
families, and staff must be maintained, and students are encouraged to use strong discretion when referring to
events at the lab site.
Attendance
Individuals enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Program must establish a consistent attendance record
because attendance affects the quantity and quality of work that can be accomplished in class. Consistent
attendance demonstrates to future employers that you are dependable, attentive and punctual.
We realize that illness and personal difficulties, over which you have little control, play a part in attendance
patterns. However, students should make every effort to attend their course on a regular basis. Attendance
policies are outlined on each course syllabi, according to the preference of the instructor. Barriers to, or
accommodations needed for, successful completion of a course should be discussed with the instructor right
away.
-5-Field Experience and Lab Placement Information
General Information
It is important to understand field experiences and/or lab hours comprise one credit of each ECE course credit
total. One credit is equal to 30 hours. Lecture sessions are modified to allow for field experiences and/or lab
visits. ECE field experiences and lab hours are intended to complement course goals and objectives. Field
experiences and lab hours must be satisfactorily completed to pass the course.
ECE 101 does not require lab hours. ECE 112, ECE 113, ECE 201 and ECE 202 students receive lab placements by
the ECE Program Coordinator. It is highly recommended that these students spend two to four hours per week in
the lab setting, over a period of 15 weeks, for a total of 30 hours per course. ECE 114, ECE 206, ECE 207 and ECE
208 lab credits are in the form of field experiences as assigned by the course instructors. Students participating
in field experiences are required to carry copies of their DHHS clearance, TB test results, and student ID with
them while working on course assignments.
No student is assigned to a lab site until all program background check requirements have been completed and
copies have been received by the ECE Coordinator. Students may also need to complete additional paperwork as
required by a lab site director prior to attending. Lab site placements are made through the third week of the
semester. Be advised that delayed lab assignments due to missing documentation may adversely affect a
student’s course grade. Students will not be placed after mid- semester without documentation of extenuating
circumstances.
Lab Hour Credit Opportunity
If a student is currently working at least 15 hours a week in a licensed early childhood setting, he/she has the
option of using work hours for up to half of their lab hours. This student employment must be verified in writing
by the employer and include a valid state child care license number that is in good standing. The work site child
care license may not be less than one year old nor have licensing violations related to children’s safety and well-
being within the past two years. The remainder of the course(s) lab hours must be conducted at an assigned lab
site. It is important for students to train in a variety of early childhood settings for a well-rounded practicum
experience.
-6-Visiting the Lab Site
Weekly Schedules
Students arrange their weekly lab schedules with the lab site director or supervising teacher prior to starting or
at the first prearranged visit.
Students must document their hours on the lab hour form as provided by the ECE instructor or may use a form
the lab site provides. Lab hour records are reported to the ECE Program Coordinator by lab site supervisors on a
monthly basis. Hours for field observations should be verified at each visit. Forgetting to sign in or out, or to
obtain a verifying signature, may result in the loss of those hours. The falsification of hours and/or signatures
violates the MMC Student Code of Conduct, and will result in disciplinary action by the College.
Instructors and the ECE Program Coordinator review any reports of inappropriate behavior at lab sites and may
remove a student from a lab site. Depending on the situation, the ECE Coordinator will attempt to reassign the
student one time. Further reports of inappropriate behavior will result in the student failing the ECE course, and
dismissal from the ECE program for the period of one academic semester.
Student Behavior at Lab Sites
Attendance is key. Students are to report as scheduled, or call ahead if planning to be absent or late. Students
should not attend the lab site if experiencing illness. In the event of an unexpected absence or illness, the
student is to call the lab site as soon as possible to reschedule the missed visit.
Following the Rules
Students are to be aware of lab site classroom rules for staff and children and follow them. Students are not
permitted to use their cell phones while volunteering at a lab site unless it is an emergency. Park in designated
areas only.
Attire and Appearance
Students are to dress in a manner that is professional, yet suitable and comfortable for working with children.
Clothing that is acceptable includes khakis or dress pants, jeans, tee shirts, long button-down shirts, sweatshirts,
sweaters, dresses or skirts knee-length or longer, and comfortable, sturdy shoes. Yoga pants and leggings are
acceptable provided the student’s shirt covers her seat when both standing and sitting.
Clothing that is not appropriate includes hats, shorts, tank tops or tops with thin straps, clothing with beer,
cigarette or obscene writing, low-slung pants or short skirts/dresses, low-cut shirts or midriff shirts, torn or
ripped jeans, excessive or dangling jewelry, or underwear showing.
We strongly encourage students to cover or remove facial piercings, cover large tattoos, and to avoid smoking
before entering a lab site. Further, be advised that a director may send a student home if found to be in
violation of the lab site dress code.
-7-Confidentiality
Any information seen or heard at a lab site is to be kept confidential. If a student has a concern regarding the
safety or well-being of a child, it is to be reported to the lab site director or supervising teacher immediately.
Gossip is not permitted inside or outside of the lab site. Students may not post pictures or information about
children and families from a lab site(s) on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other social networking site.
-8-ECE Professional Standards
There are professional standards important for realizing the early childhood profession’s vision that each and
every young child, birth through age 8, have equitable access to high-quality learning and care environments
(NAEYC, 2020). Hence, there is a fundamental body of knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions early childhood
educators must demonstrate to effectively promote the development, learning, and well-being of all young
children (NAEYC, 2020) .
NAEYC Professional Standards and Competencies
Standard 1: Child Development and Learning in Context
Standard 2: Family–Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections
Standard 3: Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment
Standard 4: Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices
Standard 5: Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood
Curriculum
Standard 6: Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator
The entire document can be accessed by clicking here:
file:///C:/Users/jehle/Desktop/professional_standards_and_competencies_for_early_childhood_educators.pdf
Portfolio Evidence
Students are to maintain a notebook or electronic file of their learning and lab site artifacts as their associate
degree courses in Early Childhood Education are completed. Students should begin compiling documentation in
ECE 101, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, and continue throughout all ECE courses. Students can also
include any examples of exceptional, original work from non-ECE courses, but particularly those that provide
evidence of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and
Competencies (NAEYC, 2020). Instructors will use rubrics for key assignments showing which standards the
assignments focus on. This helps guide the student to align his or her individual work with the standards and
competencies in as part of their coursework in ECE 207, ECE Practicum.
-9-ECE Student Capstone Portfolio Artifacts
ECE 101
Importance of Play Composition
Integrated Study Plan
Resource File
ECE 112
Infant-Toddler Educator Reflective Practice Composition
Social-Emotional Documentation Panel
Infant-Toddler Lesson Plans and Reflections
ECE 113
Developmental Documentation Board with Learning Goals and Outcomes Alignments
Individual Child Summary of Learning and Development
Family Conference Form
ECE 114
Statement of Competency with Families
Family Communication Pamphlets
ECE 201
Guidance and Discipline PowerPoint
ECE 202
Music, Art and Dramatic Play Environment Checklist
0-5 STEM Prop Box
Language and Literacy Presentation
ECE 206
Focus Family Ecological Systems Study Composition
ECE 207
Special Interest Research Poster
Capstone E-Portfolio
ECE 208
ECE Administrator Job Shadow Study Composition
-10-CDA Credentialing Program
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Program represents a national effort to credential qualified teachers
and caregivers who work with children from birth to age five. MMC offers coursework (ECE 150) that prepares a
student to receive the national credential, should students wish to pursue it. The CDA Credential is recognized in
all 50 states as well as many other countries, and demonstrates that the candidate possesses core child
development knowledge and understands developmentally appropriate practice.
Please Note: Candidates enrolled in CDA training programs do not automatically receive the CDA Credential. The
CDA Credential is earned by successfully completing the assessment process through the Council for
Professional Recognition.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost for the CDA application is currently $425.00. Contact Julie Ehle at 989-386-6641 for information or visit
cdacouncil.org.
Eligibility Requirements
Candidates for CDA assessment must meet and verify the following criteria:
1. Be 18 years or older.
2. Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
3. Have 480 hours of experience working with children within the past three years.
4. Have 120 clock hours of formal child care education and training.
Scholarship Assistance
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® MICHIGAN is a statewide scholarship program designed to help child care
center teaching staff, preschool teachers, family child care providers, group home owners, center
directors, early childhood professionals and administrators meet their professional development goals,
while continuing their current employment in regulated early childhood and school age care settings
(MIAEYC, 2020).
For more information, click here TEACH Scholarships
-11-Early Childhood Education Program Student Handbook 2020 -2021
I hereby acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Mid Michigan College Early Childhood
Education Program Student Handbook and have read, understand, and am responsible for the
information contained therein.
Full Name _____________________________________________________________
Please print.
Signature _____________________________________________________________
Date ______________________________
-12-References
Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children. (2020, March 29). T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD
MICHIGAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. Retrieved from MIAEYC: https://www.miaeyc.org/professional-
development/t-e-a-c-h-scholarships/
NAEYC. (2020, March 28). Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators . Retrieved
from NAEYC: https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-
shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/position-
statements/professional_standards_and_competencies_for_early_childhood_educators.pdfYou can also read
