Early Childhood Education: Educator Assistant
This program aligns to the Gateways to Opportunity ECE Level 2 credential which includes completion of a high school diploma or GED.
The Early Childhood Education certificate program will assist individuals in securing the education and credentials needed to obtain employment in child care facilities. This certificate has been developed to assist persons to meet the minimal requirements for approval as an early childhood assistant.
Credential Program Description
Students enrolled in Early Childhood programs at Sauk Valley Community College will be eligible to complete credentials through Gateways to Opportunity Illinois Professional Development System for ECE and ITC 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 early childhood education program is designed to educate professionals for a diverse and challenging field. Employment opportunities for graduates of the early childhood education program are very positive, whether pursuing a career in group day care or preschool settings, 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 18 credit hours.
| In-District | Out-of-District | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $2,700.00 | $6,480.00 | $7,236.00 |
| Fees | $324.00 | $324.00 | $324.00 |
| Course Fees | * $180.00 | * $180.00 | * $180.00 |
| Total Tuition and Fees | $3,204.00 | $6,984.00 | $7,740.00 |
* 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.