Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the three education programs?
The three programs are designed to provide flexibility for students so that
they may complete the requirements that fit their needs: entering the work
force upon graduation, transferring to four year programs in education or
completing a few courses which help them to move up the career ladder in
their present employment.
The Early Childhood Education Program is designed for those
individuals who wish to become employed immediately upon graduation. Graduates
of this program may become certified by the Massachusetts Office of Child
Care Services as Lead Teachers in programs serving children from birth to
age 7 years and in programs which are outside of the public schools. Many
graduates work in the public schools as classroom aides or with special needs
children.
The Liberal Arts/Education Option Program is designed for those individuals
who plan to become preschool and elementary school teachers within the public
school system. These graduates must transfer to a four year institution and
major in a liberal arts discipline and also complete courses in education
including student teaching. This program provides a strong foundation in
the education of young children and prepares the student for transfer.
The Licensure Program is designed for those individuals who have
been working in the field for many years and who wish to acquire the academic
component necessary to become Lead Teacher qualified according to the regulations
of the Office of Child Care Services. Most of the students who enroll in
this program have already worked in the field for several years and have
the required 27 months of work experience. The department does not place
students in sites to receive the required 27 months of experience.
* * *
Can I become certified to teach in the public
schools through your program?
No. To become qualified to teach in the public schools, all individuals
must obtain a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from a four year institution.
Once an individual does receive certification to teach, they must then complete
a Master's Degree Program within five years after becoming employed as a
teacher. They must also pass the Massachusetts Teacher Examination which
includes both a literacy and a field of knowledge component.
If I already have a liberal arts bachelor's
degree, how do I find out if I am certifiable?
Contact the Massachusetts Department of Education to request an application.
They will evaluate your application and transcripts and inform you if you
are qualified to teach. If you are not qualified, they will tell you what
you will need for certification. You
may also contact the Education Departments of any four year institution.
If I am enrolled in the Early Childhood Program Education where
do I complete my Student Teaching Practica?
The program collaborates with over 35 programs in Franklin and Hampshire
Counties. The college staff are responsible for placing you in a program
and placements are determined by the goals that the student sets as well
what is determined to be an appropriate settings for you by the department.
Which types of programs are available for the students as practicum sites?
The
sites include Head Start, public and private kindergartens, nursery schools and
full day programs as well as family child care and special needs
settings. Children in programs range from infants to seven years old and
may include some afterschool programs.
If I already hold a valid certificate
to teach in the public schools, may I teach in preschool?
Not necessarily. If
your certificate to teach is a Pre K-2nd Grade
Certificate, you may then be certifiable through the Massachusetts Office
of Child Care Services. If you hold a certificate for grade 3 or higher,
then you would most likely have to take courses related directly to young
children.
What is the difference between the Massachusetts Department of
Education and the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services?
The Department
of Education regulates all public school programs and all teachers must hold
a valid teaching certificate from the DOE. The Office
of Child Care Services regulates all private programs serving young children
including after school programs that are not within the public schools. It
also regulates all family child programs and residential programs within
the state of Massachusetts.
Are the regulations
the same for both departments?
No. Each have their own set of regulations
and although there are similarities, there are also many differences. For
more information regarding the specific regulations, contact: Office
of Child Care Services
www.qualitychildcare.org
413-788-8401 (Springfield regional office)
Massachusetts Department of Education
www.doe.mass.edu
781-338-3000 What
do I need to do to open my own child care center or to care for children
in my home?
There are different regulations governing
each of the above. You should contact the Office of Child Care Services
and ask for the regulations governing
each.
Must I be licensed to care
for other people's children in my home?
According to the Office of Child
Care Services anyone who chooses to care for children other than their
own children
must be licensed by the state. Such a person is referred to as a family
child care provider. These providers must enroll in a training program
offered by the state before they may begin providing this care.
How many
children may I care for in my home at one time? What is the age range of
the children for whom
I may provide care?
Most family child care providers care
for up to six children at one time including their own children if they
are under school age. For a provider who has experience, they may care
for up to ten children if they have an aide during the time that there
are more than six children. Children may be cared for who are usually
from one month to seven years old. Some programs also provide before and
after school care for children up to age twelve.
Must
I be a full time student to enroll in any of GCC's education programs?
No.
Many of our students take one or two courses at a time over a period of
many years.
May I receive any of the degrees
through the evening division?
It is possible to receive the Liberal
Arts/Education Option Associate Degree through the evening division. Many
of the liberal arts courses are offered every semester including the January
Intersession and the two summer sessions. The Education courses are offered
on a rotating schedule in the Fall and Spring semesters. Education courses
are not usually offered during the summer sessions.
It is not possible to
obtain the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree solely through the
evening division
because students must complete Student Teaching I and II. Students must
complete a minimum of 150 hours of actual classroom experience for both
courses and currently early childhood programs only operate during the
day. There is also a required weekly seminar for each practicum and that
is only held during the day. The courses required for the Certificate
are all offered through the evening division.
May I receive Prior Learning
Experience Credit for working in the field for several years? If so, what
is the process?
The department does offer the opportunity
to receive credit for Prior Learning Experiences. A student must meet the
criteria determined by the department and the college in order to receive
such credit and a student should set up a meeting with the coordinator
of the program to determine if this is appropriate. Prior Leaning Experience
is ONLY awarded for Student Teaching I and NEVER for Student Teaching II.
If
I am currently employed in the field, may I do my student teaching at
the site?
The department determines the appropriateness
of such an arrangement on an individual bases. Any student desiring such
an arrangement must meet with the coordinator and/or staff of the Education
Department.
May I receive a degree for
both Early Childhood Education and Liberal Arts/Education Option?
Yes. Many
of the courses in both programs are the same. The major difference is the
requirement of Student Teaching
for the Early Childhood Education Degree. If a student wishes to earn an
additional associate degree they must:
a. meet all specific requirements
for each degree program;
b. complete at least
15 credits of coursework beyond the previous degree awarded; and
c. of those 15 additional
credits, at least 12 must be completed at GCC.
Will my credits transfer at
all four year institutions?
Most liberal arts courses are transferable.
However, it is always up to the individual college as to whether or not
they will accept all of your credits. Most colleges will not transfer all
of your Student Teaching credits, although some colleges will accept one
semester. The student should always meet with the transfer officer of the
college they are considering to determine if there are specific courses
that are needed before transferring.
What job opportunities
exist for those with a degree in Early Childhood Education?
There is currently
a crisis in the field because there are not enough qualified teachers of
young children in the
state. Most graduates find jobs immediately upon graduation. Although our
program does not train students specifically to become nannies, many of
our graduates are hired as nannies.
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