Early Childhood Education: Foundations of Infant Toddler Care
This program aligns to the Gateways to Opportunity Infant and Toddler Care (ITC) Credentials Levels 2-4 and includes completion of a high school diploma or GED and the student's successful completion of the accompanying coursework required for ECE Levels 2, 3, or 4.
This one-course program provides students with an overview of the development of children birth through age three. Students will explore physical, social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic growth, as well as factors that affect learning and development. Emphasis will be placed on the role of family and community partnership in effective care-giving programs. Students will also design developmentally-appropriate curriculum, including observation and formal and informal assessment techniques. Students will demonstrate understanding of the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS) by performing an evaluation in an infant/toddler classroom setting. Students will participate in a minimum of 50 hours of required field experience.
The Infant and Toddler Care certificate program will assist individuals in securing
the education and credentials needed to obtain employment working with infants and
toddlers in childcare facilities. This certificate allows individuals to obtain greater
proficiency in the areas of study required in the care of infants and toddlers.
Credential Program Description
Students enrolled in the Early Childhood programs at Sauk Valley Community College will be eligible to complete credentials through Gateways to Opportunity Illinois State Professional Development System for ECE Levels 2, 3, and 4 and Infant Toddler Care Levels 2, 3, and 4. Benefits of this credentialing process increase a student's employability and make students eligible for scholarship opportunities and wage differentials. Students must earn a "C" or better in all ECE courses used to fulfill Gateways to Opportunity credentialing requirements.
Work and Employment
The Infant Toddler Care program is designed to educate professionals for a diverse and challenging field. Employment opportunities for graduates of the Infant Toddler Care program are very positive, whether pursuing a career in a group day care or in family care.
Criminal History Check Policy
Illinois law requires licensed early childhood programs to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. Employment of individuals who have been convicted of committing or attempting to commit offenses that may put children in harm's way is prohibited. Laws vary according to the agency and their licensing body.
Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.
Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.
Estimated Program Cost
The following figures are based on 2024-25 tuition and fee rates and the course fees in the Class Schedule for the required minimum number 4 credit hours.
| In-District | Out-of-District | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $600.00 | $1,440.00 | $1,608.00 |
| Fees | $72.00 | $72.00 | $72.00 |
| Course Fees | * $0.00 | * $0.00 | * $0.00 |
| Total Tuition and Fees | $672.00 | $1,512.00 | $1,680.00 |
* Note: Course fees may vary depending upon the classes that a student completes within an academic program. The course fee above is only an estimation and represents the maximum course fees possible; it is likely that course fees will be lower than the estimation above.