Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education I and II

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at Arlington Career Center provides students with hands-on experience working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children. Fieldwork placements take place in our on-site day care and preschool classrooms or at the Montessori School of Arlington.Both ECE courses are double-blocked and worth two high school credits. Students may also earn college credits through a dual-enrollment partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).

Early Childhood Education I

In Early Childhood Education I, students learn to plan, organize, and implement learning experiences that foster safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate environments for young children. Coursework emphasizes promoting physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development; designing curriculum responsive to children’s needs; and building strong family engagement practices.Students also explore local, state, and federal regulations governing early childhood programs, along with the professional expectations for educators in this field. The course prepares students for balancing work and family responsibilities, identifying education and training pathways, and pursuing careers in the Education & Training and Human Services career clusters.Students enrolled in ECE I can earn six college credit hours through NOVA for CD 120 (Introduction to Early Childhood Education) and CD 145 (Art, Music, and Movement). They also sit for the Virginia Workplace Readiness Skills certification exam.

Early Childhood Education II*

Early Childhood Education II is a specialized, advanced course for students interested in careers in early childhood education and related services. It builds upon concepts introduced in Early Childhood Education I or Child Development & Parenting.Students continue to design and facilitate developmentally appropriate learning experiences while deepening their understanding of child development, curriculum design, and family engagement. The course also explores the legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of early childhood educators.Throughout the course, students refine their professional portfolios, review skills and aptitudes required for success in early childhood careers, and demonstrate college and career readiness. Students in ECE II will take the ParaPro exam in the spring.*Prerequisite: Early Childhood Education I or Child Development & Parenting.

(Updated 10/30/25)