This certificate provides students who want to work as a school aide, paraprofessional educator, after-school aide or teacher assistant with essential knowledge of child development, how to work with diverse populations and children with special needs, hands-on curriculum development, and fieldwork in an elementary school setting. In addition, they have an option to focus on behavior guidance, literacy development or health and safety. A recipient will qualify under state licensing regulations to be a preschool teacher and will have the course work to earn the Associate Teacher California Child Development permit. A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses.

Career Opportunities

Students will be qualified to work in a licensed facility as a preschool teachers and will have the coursework to earn the Associate Teacher permit which is needed to work in Title 5 state-funded preschools and Head Start centers. They will have competencies to work as paraeducators, after-school aides and teacher assistants in an elementary school as well. Labor Market data shows a significant undersupply of Teacher Assistants compared to the demand for this occupation in the Bay region and in the East Bay sub-region (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.) There is a projected annual gap of about 4,034 students in the Bay region and 1,485 students in the East Bay Sub-Region. In addition, as California school districts struggle to find teachers, these jobs might prove to be a pipeline to credentialed jobs. Some California school districts have initiated programs to provide financial aid to aides and paraprofessionals to earn degrees and credentials.

Program Learning Outcomes

- Demonstrate an understanding of typical and atypical development in children from birth through elementary school age by planning curriculum that meets the diverse needs and learning styles of all children;

- Demonstrate an understanding of child development theory, pedagogy, and current research, and their application to responsive and reflective practice in early care and elementary school settings.