Community College Early Childhood Program Expansion on Young Children with Disabilities

2025

This project supports associate degree preservice programs to train early childhood education (ECE) students to work with young children with disabilities and their families in Connecticut. The UCEDD partnered with four community colleges to enhance and redesign their early childhood associate degree curricula and competencies to align with state and national standards, DEC Recommended Practices, and evidence-based instructional practices. These four community colleges are the core work-group of a larger consortium of all twelve of the state's community colleges who have early childhood education associate degree programs. At the end of the five years, all community colleges in Connecticut will utilize the adapted curriculum and competencies. The proposed project will fund community college faculty to accomplish this goal and to promote their knowledge and skills.

Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood – General

Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training

Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities

Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Specific Groups

State

Federal

N/A