Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Program Title: 	Infant/Toddler Specialization
Career Cluster: 	Education & Training

College Credit Certificate	
CIP Number	0419070907	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	12 credit hours	
CTSO	N/A	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	For program SOC codes, please see the Program and Course Tables section of the CTE Program Resources page linked below.	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Early Childhood Education AS degree program (1413121004).  

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Education & Training career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Education & Training career cluster. 

The purpose of this program is to prepare students as early childhood education caregivers with an infant/toddler specialization or to provide supplementary training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations.

The content includes but is not limited to growth and development, early childhood education; establishing and maintaining a safe, clean, healthy, learning environment; guidance techniques and classroom management; communication; identification of child abuse and neglect; implementation of rules and regulations; nutrition; family interaction; legal and professional responsibilities; and employability skills.  Programs prepare individuals to assume major care giving and educational responsibilities within home or center-based programs for infant/toddlers.  

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.
Program Structure

When developing the course sequence for the local implementation of this program, select courses that:
•	Meet the skill development requirements of the standards and benchmarks of this program.
•	Where reasonable and practicable, align with programs offered by your institution or other postsecondary institutions in Florida, including: 
o	Related AS and AAS degrees.
o	Baccalaureate degrees within the same career pathway and/or Federal CIP code.

Visit FloridaShines’ Discover Programs website to identify other institutions that offer similar programs to review their course sequencing. Where appropriate, course alignment between institutions offering related programs can facilitate interagency student articulation.

Visit FloridaShines’ Common Prerequisites Manual to identify courses that are prerequisites for admission into an upper division program.  When sub-baccalaureate courses are aligned to the course admissions requirements of baccalaureate programs with the same career pathway, students can enter upper division coursework seamlessly.   

Florida’s Career Readiness Skills for CTE Programs

Employability Skills	
01.0	Apply academic skills to workplace scenarios.	
01.01	Use reading skills.	
01.02	Use writing skills.	
01.03	Use mathematical strategies and procedures.	
01.04	Use scientific principles and procedures.	
02.0	Design a solution to an industry problem.	
02.01	Use critical thinking.	
02.02	Use creativity.	
02.03	Make sound decisions.	
02.04	Solve problems.	
02.05	Reason. 	
02.06	Plan and organize.	
03.0	Manage resources within an industry project	
03.01	Manage time.	
03.02	Manage money or resources.	
03.03	Manage materials.	
03.04	Manage personnel.	
04.0	Oversee the subcomponents, operations and output of a technical or organizational system.	
04.01	Manage systems.	
04.02	Monitor systems.	
04.03	Improve systems.	
05.0	Use information for decision making.	
05.01	Locate information.	
05.02	Organize information.	
05.03	Use information.	
05.04	Analyze information.	
05.05	Communicate information.	
06.0	Apply relevant technology to workplace scenarios to aid productivity.	
06.01	Use technology.	
07.0	Interpret and express interpersonal communication.	
07.01	Communicate verbally.	
07.02	Listen actively.	
07.03	Comprehend written material.	
07.04	Convey information in writing.	
07.05	Communicate nonverbally.	
07.06	Interpret nonverbal communication.	
08.0	Interact with others to accomplish workplace goals.	
08.01	Collaborate with others in a team.	
08.02	Respond to customer needs.	
08.03	Exercise leadership.	
08.04	Negotiate to resolve conflict.	
08.05	Respect others.	
09.0	Manage personal behavior to maximize productivity and professional growth.	
09.01	Demonstrate responsibility and self-discipline.	
09.02	Adapt and show flexibility.	
09.03	Work independently.	
09.04	Demonstrate a willingness to learn.	
09.05	Demonstrate integrity.	
09.06	Demonstrate professionalism.	
09.07	Take initiative.	
09.08	Display positive attitude.	
09.09	Take responsibility for professional growth.	
Job Attainment	
10.0	Find, assess and apply to job opportunities.	
10.01	Identify online job posts relevant to his or her career aspirations.	
10.02	Compare and contrast the job posts’ required qualifications, job duties, compensation, benefits and employers. 	
10.03	Define what information, documentation and writing prompts are required for the positions.	
11.0	Communicate personal competence, character and fit for a job opportunity.	
11.01	Develop a resume.	
11.02	Write a cover letter.	
11.03	Curate a professional portfolio that includes work products.	
11.04	Prepare for and experience a mock job interview.	
12.0	Cultivate and leverage relationships to professionally advance.	
12.01	Request a signed reference letter, letter of recommendation and/or an online skill/professionalism endorsement. 	
12.02	Develop a plan to cultivate a professional digital footprint.	
12.03	Develop a networking plan for a specific industry of interest.	

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate knowledge of health, safety and nutrition relative to infants and toddlers. 
02.0	Demonstrate knowledge of a developmentally appropriate infant/toddler environment.  
03.0	Demonstrate content knowledge in early childhood education for infants/toddlers.  
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of infant/toddler growth and development to foster social and emotional development in the infant and toddler.  
05.0	Demonstrate the importance of positive interactions with the family and communities.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title: 	Infant/Toddler Specialization
CIP Number:	0419070907
Program Length: 	12 credit hours

This certificate program is part of the Early Childhood Education AS degree program (1413121004).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Demonstrate knowledge of health, safety and nutrition relative to infants and toddlers. The student will be able to:	
01.01	Identify healthy and safe habits and potential hazards in a child development facility.	
01.02	Recognize resources for certification in Pediatric First Aid and CPR.	
01.03	Identify accidents common to children and appropriate first aid techniques.	
01.04	Indicate major components in a safety plan (i.e., evacuation, fire and lockdown procedures, etc.).	
01.05	Identify developmentally appropriate safety activities (i.e., sleeping, transporting, eating, etc.).	
01.06	Recognize appropriate food preparation and nutrition education activities.	
01.07	Recognize the need for policies and procedures related to medical emergencies and demonstrate an understanding of appropriate follow up.	
02.0	Demonstrate knowledge of a developmentally appropriate infant/toddler environment.  The student will be able to:	
02.01	Plan and create developmentally appropriate environments for preschoolers.	
03.0	Demonstrate content knowledge in early childhood education for infants/toddlers.  The student will be able to:	
03.01	Identify and describe the principles of evidence-based models of preschool education.	
03.02	Develop plans to meet short- and long-term developmental goals.	
03.03	Explain developmentally appropriate and inclusive teaching techniques to support various learning preferences, temperament and abilities.	
03.04	Arrange learning environments for a variety of activities using developmentally appropriate materials across the curriculum. 	
03.05	Discuss the importance of play in learning and development. 	
03.06	Identify and implement responsive teacher-child interactions.	
03.07	Recognize the importance of spontaneity, flexibility and open-ended materials.	
03.08	Recognize the importance of representational play.	
03.09	Collect, analyze and use data to inform practice.	
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of child growth and development of the infant and toddler age child.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Engage in developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive interactions that support the development of communication skills.	
04.02	Identify strategies to support preschoolers through periods of stress, separation, transition, trauma, etc. through the use of appropriate comforting techniques.	
04.03	Demonstrate knowledge of attachment strategies and its importance in social and emotional development.	
04.04	Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles related to child growth and development for preschoolers. 	
04.05	Plan developmentally appropriate activities that promote physical development for preschoolers. 	
04.06	Plan developmentally appropriate activities that promote cognitive development through math, science, social science and arts for preschoolers. 	
04.07	Plan developmentally appropriate activities that promote creativity through music, movement, dramatic play and art for preschoolers.	
04.08	Plan developmentally appropriate activities that promote language and literacy development through for preschoolers.	
04.09	Identify and demonstrate developmentally appropriate classroom management strategies (e.g., predictable routines, scheduling, transitions, and learning environment, etc.).	
04.10	Identify and demonstrate evidence-based techniques (i.e., positive guidance) that foster the development of age-appropriate self-regulation. 	
05.0	Demonstrate the importance of positive interactions with the family and community. The student will be able to:	
05.01	Recognize the value of positive interaction with the child’s family or primary caregiver.	
05.02	Describe the forces which have an impact on the lives of children and families (e.g., social-emotional, economic, environment, linguistic, etc.).	
05.03	Demonstrate respect for diverse family structures and their communities through culturally responsive practices. 	
05.04	Identify culturally responsive methods for empowering families in their roles as advocates for their children.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.  

Observation and supervised work experience with children in a school laboratory and/or a community laboratory setting are an integral part of this program. Developmentally appropriate activities will focus on such areas as:  physical development, social/emotional development, cognitive development, and learning skills/language development in home, classroom, and center-based programs.

Special Notes

The student must successfully complete the four required courses in this area of specialization.

Students will be encouraged to participate in organizations and associated activities which are consistent with their professional goals.  These include but are not limited to Early Childhood Association of Florida (ECAF), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.