All CCAC AFP-sponsored courses meet Connecticut Director Credential competency areas. Each course is worth 3 college credits.
- Administration and Supervision of Programs for Young ChildrenThis is an upper level baccalaureate, three credit course focusing on administering programs for young children. The course utilizes national standards (NAEYC Program Standards and Accreditation Criteria) and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct as the underlying framework for best practice in the administrative realm. This course will explain and discuss the role of the administrator in private, public, and federally funded schools. It will address various program philosophies, comprehensive programs, methods of managing staff and program, regulations, facilities, and developing family and community partnerships. This course is designed to meet the requirement for the Connecticut Director’s Credential as the comprehensive introductory course.
- Family and Community Involvement in Early Childhood Programs*This is an upper level baccalaureate, three credit course providing an in-depth look at the development of the young child in the context of today’s families, schools and communities. The course will examine: three contextualist theories; family strengths and diversity; cultural competence; early childhood standards and legislation; and the roles and responsibilities of families, educators, service providers, and community members. The course provides practical strategies for implementing a family-based philosophy and building an authentic “family-centered” early childhood program. Special emphases include: establishing family-staff-community partnerships; promoting staff as child and family advocates; and enhancing communication and leadership skills. The underlying framework for the course is the NAEYC accreditation criteria for the “Families and Community Relationships” standards and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. This course meets the Child/Family/School requirement for the Connecticut Director Credential.
- Finance in Programs for Young Children*This is an upper level baccalaureate, three credit course focusing on the financial aspects of administering an early childhood program. It will explain and discuss the various aspects of budgeting; including tools that are commonly used in all businesses as well as tools that are specific to ECE programs. It will address the “trilemma” inherent to programs with strategies to think about balancing cost, quality and affordability. This course meets the Budget/Fiscal requirement for the Connecticut Director Credential.
- Leadership in Programs for Young Children*This is a lower level undergraduate three credit course examining the multi-dimensional roles of the early childhood program administrator. Emphasis is placed on reflective and introspective processes to support each individual’s capacity for leadership and to identify developing and emerging leadership abilities. The course will explore: leadership styles and their impact on program management; tools for decision-making and participatory management; the benefits of partnerships with peers, families, and other stakeholders; advocacy; and strategic approaches to initiating and implementing change. This course meets the Leadership requirement for the Connecticut Director Credential.
- Personnel: Human Resource Management*This is a lower level undergraduate three credit course focusing on the introduction to human resource management. The course includes the functions of human resource management: job analysis and planning, recruiting, staffing, orientation and training, performance appraisal, career planning, compensating, and motivating. The diversity of the workforce and the legal content of employment decisions will also be studied.
(*You must have successfully completed a comprehensive introductory administration and supervision course to enroll in this class)