PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential Program

California State University, Long Beach Policy Statement 24-12

June 3, 2024
 

PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential Program

(This new credential was approved by the CSULB Academic Senate on May 2, 2024, and approved by the President on May 24, 2024.)

PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential Program (ECECP)

The PK-3 ECECP is a 46-unit program. Teacher Candidates complete program prerequisites (and may take any or all corequisites) and demonstrate subject matter competence when applying to the program. Candidates complete all five subject-specific pedagogy courses with a “B” or better when applying to Student Teaching. Candidates who may seek additional subject-specific content support, such as in math or science, will be provided with a list of recommended content courses.

Requirements for Admission to Credential Program

1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
2. Demonstrate Subject Matter competency. Candidates meet the subject matter competence requirement through one of the following two options:
   1. Possession of a BA degree or higher with a degree major in Child Development, Child and Adolescent Development, Human Development, Early Childhood Education, Child and Family Studies, Early Childhood Studies, Human Development and Family Science, Family Science, or Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies.
   2. Completion of 24-semester units or the equivalent quarter units of non-remedial, degree-applicable coursework in child development or early childhood education.
3. Hold a valid CTC Certificate of Clearance, Emergency Permit, or other CTC Valid Credential.
   1.  All future teacher candidates must obtain a Live Scan clearance for any prior record or criminal activity and receive TB clearance to begin their clinical practice experiences in schools. Teacher candidates are not allowed to enter a school for classroom observations or interacting with the students unless these two documents are submitted and verified by the university and the school district.
4. Submit a negative tuberculosis (TB) skin test taken within the last four (4) years or chest X- ray taken within the last eight (8) years. Tuberculosis clearance must be valid through student teaching.

1. Complete prerequisites, EDEC 400 and EDEC 422/522, with a grade of “C” or better.2
2. Submit a completed application packet.

Student Teaching

For most candidates, student teaching is a full-time five days per week experience for the length of the university semester. Candidates may be placed in public school TK-3 classrooms and/or public or private preschool classrooms. All private school sites must meet all criteria outlined in the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential Handbook.

Requirements for Advancement to Student Teaching

1. Completion of all program prerequisites, corequisites, and pedagogical method courses.
   1. Students may complete one pedagogical method course concurrent with student teaching.
2. Received a “B” or better in all subject-specific pedagogy courses.
3. Proof of identity and character clearance (current valid certificate of clearance).
4. A negative tuberculosis skin test taken within the last four (4) years or chest X-ray taken within the last eight (8) years. Tuberculosis clearance must be valid through student teaching.
5. Submission of a student teaching application by the appropriate deadline.

Credential Course Requirements Prerequisites (6 units)

• EDEC 400 (3 units) Introduction to Early Childhood Education
• EDEC 422/522 (3 units) Developing Family, School, and Community Partnerships

Corequisites (9 units)

• EDEC 410 (3 units) Social-Emotional and Cognitive Learning in Early Childhood Education
• EDEC 420 (3 units) Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Early Childhood Education
• EDEC 430/530 (3 units) Advocating for Early Intervention of Young Children and their Families

Pedagogical Methods (15 units)

• EDEC 450 (3 units) Teaching Early Language and Literacy (Birth-K)
• EDEC 455 (3 units) Teaching Early Language and Literacy (K-3rd Grade)
• EDEL 452 (3 units) Teaching and Learning Reading, K-8
• EDEL 462 (3 units) Teaching and Learning Mathematics
• EDEL 472 (3 units) Teaching and Learning History-Social Science, K-8