Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Affordable, accessible training for educators teaching 4-year-olds
Listen
• 0:50
Gary Huff, a professor at Santa Monica College, leads a class for early childhood educators.
(
Amy Gaskin/SMC
)
Since California schools began offering a new grade for four-year-olds in 2012, more programs have popped up to train educators working with these younger students. Now, Santa Monica College will become the first community college in the state to offer a Transitional Kindergarten certificate program.
"It really is the most affordable, accessible and, I think, high-quality professional development pathway for TK teachers that’s available right now in California," said Gary Huff, professor of early childhood education at Santa Monica College.
The grade was created after a 2010 law changed kindergarten age cutoff dates and the state is phasing in new training requirements for TK teachers.
By August 2020, TK teachers who were assigned to classrooms in 2015 must earn at least 24 units of early childhood education or childhood development classes (or an equivalent amount of classroom experience, or a child development permit). So many educators already in the classroom are heading back to school.
Support for LAist comes from
"It’s really challenging to work a full-time job and then try get to a college campus," said Huff. "And LA traffic? I mean – come on – that’s a nightmare, right?"
This new certificate program is striving for accessibility. All of the 8-week courses will be offered online. And, at just $46/unit, they are just are a fraction of the cost of similar programs offered at state and private schools like University of La Verne, University of Riverside, Extension and Loyola Marymount University.
Credentialed teachers need the training because four-year-olds and five-year-olds have different developmental needs, and TK offers a different educational experience than kindergarten.
"More time in a developmentally-focused environment that really centers around play and focuses on social and emotional growth," said Huff, "is what helps them to be successful for kindergarten."
The demand is high and classes for the fall have already filled up. More will open for winter and spring sessions. Courses include, "Principles & Practices of Teaching Young Children," "Assessment in TK & Kindergarten" and "Strategies for Working with Challenging Behavior."
Once the full course load is rolled out, students should be able to earn 24 credits in just two semesters.
"Because it's being offered at the community college level, anyone can do it," said Renatta Cooper, education coordinator at the L.A. County Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education.
Support for LAist comes from
She hopes to see other community colleges design similar programs, which "ultimately leads to a developmentally trained cadre of TK teachers."
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
Best of LAist