2016 – 2017 
Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Program Title:	School Age Specialization
Career Cluster:	Education & Training

CCC	
CIP Number	0419070909	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	12 credit hours	
CTSO	N/A	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	25-2011 – Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml 	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree AS degree program (1413121004).  

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Education & Training career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Education & Training career cluster. 

The purpose of this program is to prepare students as early childhood education caregivers with a school age specialization or to provide supplementary training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations.

The content includes but is not limited to growth and development, early childhood education; establishing and maintaining a safe, clean, healthy learning environment; guidance techniques and classroom management; communication; identification of child abuse and neglect; implementation of rules and regulations; nutrition; family interaction; legal and professional responsibilities; and employability skills.  Programs prepare individuals to assume major care giving and educational responsibilities within home or center-based programs for school age children.  

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Plan for, establish, and maintain a safe, clean and healthy learning environment for school age children.
02.0	Demonstrate knowledge of school age care, philosophy, purpose and social/cultural context of after-school and other programs for school age youth.
03.0	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of positive guidance techniques and behavior management strategies.
04.0	Demonstrate effective methods of establishing positive and open communication with the child’s family or primary caregiver.
05.0	Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the growth and development of formal education in the United States.
06.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the various educational technologies available to child care providers for use in school age programs.

2016 – 2017 
Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	School Age Specialization 
CIP Number:		0419070909
Program Length:	12 credit hours	
SOC Code:		25-2011

This certificate program is part of the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree AS degree program (1413121004).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Plan for, establish and maintain a safe, clean and healthy learning environment for school age children. The student will be able to:	
01.01	Demonstrate good health and safety practices and identify potential hazards in a school age program.	
01.02	Create a safe environment which includes traffic patterns, quiet and active play areas, and arrival and dismissal procedures.	
01.03	Develop lesson plans that teach children safety rules for indoor and outdoor activities including field trips.	
01.04	Create and carry out an emergency plan for accidents, injuries, illness, fire or other disaster.	
01.05	Demonstrate knowledge of Florida child care regulations that address health, sanitation and food handling practices.	
01.06	Provide and promote an environment that contributes to good health and nutrition.	
01.07	Create a list of resources on health, hygiene and nutrition.	
02.0	Demonstrate knowledge of school age care, the philosophy, purpose and social/cultural context of after-school and other programs for school age youth. The student will be able to:	
02.01	Create a systematic and responsive approach to developing a school age program.	
02.02	Create an enriching environment for school age children through the use of space, relationships, materials, and routines.	
02.03	Provide a rich and varied environment through the use of a variety of materials.	
02.04	Provide school age children with hands-on experiences and opportunities that encourage curiosity, exploration and problem solving.	
02.05	Provide communication opportunities and support for school age children to understand, acquire and use verbal and nonverbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings.	
02.06	Provide opportunities that stimulate school age children to play with sound.	
02.07	Guide social and affective development of school age children.	
02.08	Identify opportunities for continuing education in the area of school age care.	
03.0	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of positive guidance techniques and behavior management strategies.  The student will be able to:	
03.01	Identify developmentally appropriate child guidance techniques through the use of various guidance models:  behavior modification, including conflict resolution, human relations and social learning.	
03.02	Implement a child-centered environment based on nurturing guidance.	
03.03	Demonstrate knowledge of important background variables which may influence behavior.	
03.04	Provide opportunities for positive social interaction which helps children learn to communicate and get along with others through empathy and mutual respect.	
03.05	Provide opportunities and support for children to acquire, practice and receive feedback on communication and positive behaviors.	
03.06	Provide a support environment for children to learn and practice appropriate and acceptable behavior in individual and group settings.	
03.07	Implement appropriate rules, routines and procedures for school age children.	
03.08	Encourage children to accept responsibility for their actions.	
03.09	Observe and collect data on physical, cognitive, language, literacy, creative and social/emotional development.	
04.0	Demonstrate effective methods of establishing positive and open communication with the child’s family or primary caregiver.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Initiate and facilitate positive interaction with the child’s family or primary caregiver.	
04.02	Demonstrate knowledge of the social, economic, cultural and political forces that have an impact on the lives of children and families.	
04.03	Identify and implement parent involvement activities.	
04.04	Support and reinforce assignments from the child’s primary classroom.	
04.05	Develop a system of regular communication with parents and families that uses positive staff and parent interactions.	
04.06	Work constructively with parents/guardians to resolve behavior issues.	
04.07	Identify and provide families with program information, community resources and activities.	
05.0	Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the growth and development of formal education in the United States.  The student will be able to:	
05.01	Understand the nature of a society and the concepts of education it might support.	
05.02	Demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of formal education in America.	
05.03	Demonstrate knowledge of the philosophical influences related to the development of formal education.	
05.04	Understand the organizational and administrative procedures in American schools.	
05.05	Demonstrate knowledge of the financial support of education in America.	
05.06	Identify the various programs of teacher preparation, certification and accreditation.	
05.07	Analyze the Florida school system in relationship to philosophical influences.	
06.0	Demonstrate knowledge of the various educational technologies available to use in school age programs.  The student will be able to:	
06.01	Understand the basis for the use of technology in education.	
06.02	Demonstrate knowledge of the early use of technology in education.	
06.03	Understand how to use technology and integrate it into the development of a school age program.	
06.04	Develop a plan for future use of technology in the school age program.	
06.05	Develop a personal plan of future courses on technology in education to take.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students. 

Observation and supervised work experience with children in a school laboratory and/or a community laboratory setting are an integral part of this program.  Developmentally appropriate activities will focus on such areas as:  physical development, cognitive, language and literacy development, social/emotional development, creative development and appropriate methods of guidance and classroom management in home, classroom, and center-based programs.

Special Notes

The student must successfully complete the four required courses in this area of specialization.

Students will be encouraged to participate in organizations and associated activities which are consistent with their professional goals.  These include but are not limited to Early Childhood Association of Florida (ECAF), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA).

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

Additional Resources

For additional information regarding articulation agreements, Bright Futures Scholarships, Fine Arts/Practical Arts Credit and Equivalent Mathematics and Equally Rigorous Science Courses please refer to:
http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml.