The Des Moines Area Community College Newton Campus will be offering an Early Childhood Education program in the fall semester. The Early Childhood Education certificate prepares students for an entry-level position in a child care program.
The new program will help fill a need in the Newton area. Several Newton area employers have recently contacted the Newton Development Corporation saying that some of their employees cannot find child care.
“I’m pleased DMACC Newton Campus is offering an Early Childhood Education Program this fall. As our employers continue to hire and grow we are finding there is a need for more child care, especially for those parents that work second and third shifts. We continue to work with our employers, and current day-care providers to find solutions,” said Frank Liebl, Executive Director of the Newton Development Corporation.
"Newton's child care and early childhood education needs have grown significantly over the past five years," said DMACC Newton Campus Provost Dr. Joe DeHart. "This demand for care has resulted in the need for more trained care providers. DMACC is providing this program to help those choosing a career in early childhood education receive a quality, local and cost effective education."
The Newton Campus Early Childhood Education program will provide:
• Hands-on experience with children
• Focus on children from birth to eight years old
• Practice positive guidance
• Design play-based curriculum to support learning
• Create quality environments for children
• Building family and community relationships
DMACC Early Childhood Education Program Chair Katie Champlin is directing the program.
“Students will be able to earn the Early Childhood Education certificate in just one semester, by taking classes four afternoons per week plus an on-site lab,” said Champlin. “This program also meets the requirements for clock hours of formal child care education required for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.”
An information session on the new DMACC Newton Campus program will be held at 9 a.m. June 15 at the Newton Campus.
For more information, contact Academic Advisor Jody Stiles at jlstiles1@dmacc.edu or call 641-791-1722. For information on all of DMACC's Early Childhood Education programs, go towww.dmacc.edu/programs/earlychildhood.