Equity-Minded Education in the Early Childhood Classroom

This certificate of achievement is designed for Early Childhood Education students wanting to enhance their understanding of equity, inclusion, access and diversity. It will prepare students to become equity-minded, anti-bias educators when they enter the field of education. Students learn environmental design and curriculum development with a lens of DEIA to enhance social justice in the early education classroom.

Estimated completers by the end of year 2: 40 students

Estimated completers by the end of year 5: 175 students

In light of developing social justice movements worldwide it is vital that educators come into the classroom prepared to lead and educate our students in equitable ways. This program is a sprout of our current CH DEV 42, Teaching in a Diverse Society, which is an introduction to the social justice programming for teachers. With an ongoing teacher shortage post-Covid, Community Colleges are a place of learning to provide the continuing steps toward Permitting and Professional Development for teachers. East Los Angeles College is committed to better preparing our students for the workforce, especially in the realm of social and political issues. Our college mission includes increasing equity and access for students as we grow them as civically minded leaders.

Students take the 6 courses required roughly in the order listed below. Students can stack some of these courses into the existing AA, AS, and AA-T degrees that exist within the department. 

Currently the college has certificate and degree programs that include the precursor, CH DEV 42 course. This program will be stackable for nearly all certificates offered by the department, and will be easily attainable alongside most degrees. (With very few additional courses)

This program will likely draw more enrollment from the community members who are interested in enhancing their understanding of DEIA education and who need continuing education units to renew a permit. This program will share resources with all other programs, and will be a sound addition to our programming.

Within the Los Angeles Community College District there is currently no Equity Minded Certificates being offered. Community colleges in the commuting distance (Cerritos, Pasadena City, Mt. San Antonio College) do not include certificates or degrees in this realm at this time.

Core Courses:

CH DEV 2 – 20 per year – 800 students

CH DEV 11 – 15 sections per year – 450 students

CH DEV 7 – 15 per year – 450 students

CH DEV 42 – 9 per year – 306 students

CH DEV 45 – 6 per year – 180 students

CH DEV 40 – 1 section per semester until demand increases – 40 students

Total Estimated Enrollment in core courses annually: 2226 students

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