ECE 250: Administration and Supervision of Early Childhood

Course Description

This course will focus on the development and administration of early care and education programs for ages birth through eight years. Best practice, quality programming, and program evaluation are examined. Management and leadership skills addressed include: leadership and advocacy, human relations, self awareness, staff management, family and community, public relations and marketing, eductaional programming, regulatory/legal requrirements, and fiscal management. Early childhood skills and knowledge topics include: child development, curriculum and instructional methods learning environments, health, safety and nutrition, classroom guidance, children with special needs, and professional development. (3 credits)

Prerequisite

  • None

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Identify leadership skills and the behaviors of an Early Childhood or School Age Care Director (PS&C Standard 6a, 6e).
  2. Understand and utilize the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct in work (PS&C Standard 6b, 6e).
  3. Understand the various roles and responsibilities of the Early Childhood or School-Age Care Director, specific to finances, personnel management, leadership, and working with families and communities (including health and safety) (PS&C Standard 6d, 6e).
  4. Understand the four types of business organizations and the advantages and disadvantages of each (PS&C Standard 6d, 6e).
  5. Explain the differences between state licensing and accreditation for early childhood or school age care programs (PS&C Standard 6d, 6e).
  6. Explain the differences between teacher licensing and credentialing (PS&C Standard 6d, 6e).
  7. Evaluate the tools that are available to support quality improvement for programs serving young children (PS&C Standard 6d, 6e).
  8. Communicate effectively how young children learn and describe the various inclusive curriculum models available for programs serving young children, including models (PS&C Standards 6c, 6d, 6e).
  9. Investigate the use of technology in the administration, educational programming, and communication of program information (PS&C Standard 6c, 6e).
  10. Identify the components of a well-designed evaluation and marketing plan (PS&C Standard 6c, 6e.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (Weeks 1-8)

25%

Journals (Weeks 1-8)

25%

Assignments (Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8)

25%

Group Project (Week 7)

25%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Feeney, Stephanie. Ethics and Early Childhood Educator. 3rd ed. NAEYC, 2018. ISBN-10: 1-938113-33-0 or ISBN-13: 978-1-938113-33-8
    Note: This textbook is also required for ECE 205 and ECE 351.
  • Adams, S., Kronberg, A., Donley, M., and Lynch, E. Developing and Administering a Child Care and Education Program. 10th ed. Cengage Learning, 2022. ISBN-13: 978-0-357-51320-0

Additional Resources

Course Schedule

WeekSLOsReadings and ExercisesAssignments

1

1,2,3

Topic: The Early Childhood Director and Establishing a Program

  • Readings:
    • Chapters 1 and 2 (Adams et al, 2022).
    • Chapters 1 and 2 (Feeney & Freeman, 3rd edition, 2018). 
    • Read: NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct (Appendix A and B in Feeney & Freeman (2018, pages 126-141). 
    • Review the NAEYC Website.
    • Review the NAEYC Supplement to the Code of Ethical Conduct for Program Administrators. 
    • Review the CT Blue Ribbon Panel Report.
    • Review the NAEYC website information on Power to the Profession. 
  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Assignment: Mission Statement and Core Values
  • Submit Journal Assignment

2

4,5,6,7

Topics: Licensing, Accreditation and Credentialing / Organizational Structure and Program Governance

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 (Adams et al., 2022).
  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Assignment: Licensing and Accreditation   
  • Submit Journal Assignment

3

3

Topics: Financial Matters and Program Funding and Sources

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 5 (Adams et al., 2022).
  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Assignment: Group Proposal due
  • Submit Journal Assignment

4

3

Topic: Facility Development and Equipping the Program

  • Readings:
    • Chapters 6 and 7 (Adams et al., 2022).

 

 

  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Assignment: Physical Plant Licensing Requirements
  • Submit Journal Assignment

5

3

Topics: Personnel and Professional Development

  • Readings:
    • Chapters 8, 12, and 14 (Adams et al., 2022).
    • Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. 
  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Assignment: Principles of Effective Supervision
  • Submit Journal Assignment

6

3,8,9

Topics: Recruiting Children and Supporting Quality Curriculum

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 10 (Adams et al., 2022). 
    • Read: Advancing Equity in ECE Position Statement.
  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Assignment: Work on group project
  • Submit Journal Assignment

7

3

Topics: Health, Safety and Working with Families and Communities

  • Readings:
    • Chapters 11 and 13 (Adams et al., 2022).
  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Assignment: Group Project
  • Submit Journal Assignment

8

10

Topic: Program Evaluation and Marketing
  • Readings:
    • Chapters 15 and 16 (Adams et al., 2022).
  • Read assigned chapters and supplemental materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Assignment: SWOT analysis
  • Submit Journal Assignment
  • Complete the Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.