Faculty in the birth through kindergarten/special education integrated teacher licensure program in U of A's School of Human Environmental Sciences have received a grant to offer an Early Childhood Pre-K Teacher Academy.

This nine-credit-hour program provides an alternative route for educators working in qualifying preschool settings to earn a first-time license in early childhood pre-K.

Participants will take nine hours of graduate-level coursework designed specifically for the Early Childhood Pre-K Teacher Academy, which will be delivered both synchronously and asynchronously in Summer and Fall 2022.

Thanks to an Arkansas Department of Education grant, this program is available at no cost for admitted educators, with a total of 20 scholarships available.

Early Childhood Pre-K Teacher Academy courses include:

• Advanced Studies in Early Childhood Education Policy and Practice
• Science, Math, Technology & Social Studies for Young Children
• Language, Literacy, Creativity & Aesthetics for Young Children

"We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to educators who want to build on their classroom experience and add a license to their bachelor's in early childhood education," said Academy Director Laura Herold, assistant teaching professor of human development and family sciences. "This program will establish a professional learning community of passionate early educators who will build new skills together. They will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning at our campus childcare center, the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center, and will learn from birth through kindergarten faculty as well as experts in early childhood education from around the state."

The JTCDSC is a nationally accredited childcare facility that serves families and their young children age 8 weeks to 5 years old. The center is designed to support young children and adult learners. Participants will have the opportunity to observe play-based classrooms and engage with early learning environments and materials in the innovative studio space.

"The center embodies the values of play-based childcare that supports and challenges children and adults," said Shelley McNally, executive director of education programs at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center and assistant professor of practice. "The educators at the center believe in the power of building quality relationships with children, parents and U of A students. We understand that when children are part of warm and welcoming environments, they are more likely to take risks that lead to success, growth and development. We are excited to welcome participants of the academy and learn alongside them how to provide high-quality, early-learning experiences for our youngest citizens."

The Early Childhood Pre-K Teacher Academy will begin with a summer orientation that both establishes a professional learning community and supports candidates in passing the required Praxis exam. Innovative learning techniques and candidate support are embedded throughout the academy, which provides a balance of in-person and distance learning. The program also gives participants the opportunity to apply their learning through a fall internship experience in their classroom of employment.

Early childhood educators who have a bachelor's degree or higher in early childhood education or at least 18 hours of early childhood education coursework as part of a bachelor's degree or higher are eligible to apply. Applicants must also have been employed in 2021-22 and be employed in 2022-23 in a qualifying setting serving 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds in Arkansas:

• Pre-kindergarten in a public school (Arkansas Better Chance, Head Start or district program)
• Pre-kindergarten in an Education Service Cooperative
• ABC pre-kindergarten in a non-public setting (Arkansas Better Beginnings Level 3)

The Early Childhood Education Pre-K Teacher Academy application is available now, and the deadline for applying is Monday, April 18. After admission to the academy, candidates will apply to the U of A Graduate School as a non-degree seeking student.

For more information, reach out to Academy Director Laura Herold, Ph.D., lkherold@uark.edu or 479-575-5162.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.