Course Descriptions

All CCAC AFP-sponsored courses meet Connecticut Director Credential competency areas. Each course is worth 3 college credits.

Administration and Supervision of the Early Childhood Program*
This course focuses on administering an early childhood program. It will explain and discuss the leadership role in administration and supervision of private, public and federally funded schools. It will look at establishing the program’s framework, the program’s operational systems, and the overall implementation of quality early childhood personnel standards. This survey course meets the Connecticut Director Credential requirement for an introductory survey course.

Leadership in Programs for Young Children*
This course is designed to examine the multi-dimensional roles of the early childhood program administrator. Emphasis is placed on reflective and introspective processes to support each individual’s capacity for leadership and to identify developing and emerging leadership abilities. The course will explore: leadership styles and their impact on program management; tools for decision-making and participatory management; the benefits of partnerships with peers, families, and other stakeholders; advocacy; and strategic approaches to initiating and implementing change.

Finance in Programs for Young Children*
This three credit course will focus on the financial aspects of administering an early childhood program. It will explain and discuss the various aspects of budgeting; including tools that are commonly used in all businesses as well as tools that are specific to ECE programs. It will address the “trilemma” inherent to programs with strategies to think about balancing cost, quality and affordability.

Child, Family & School Relations*
This course covers the relationships among the families, early education programs/schools, and the community. Emphasis is placed on establishing and maintaining positive and effective, collaborative relationships with families and community resource programs. The students will discover the connection between theory and family support programs, family involvement in early education, national standards and guidelines, and other strategies for forming partnerships.

Personnel in Programs for Young Children*
This course focuses on human resource management; personnel management and human behavior. Includes management functions: job analysis and planning, recruiting, staffing, orientation and training, performance appraisal, career planning, compensating, and motivating. The diversity of the workforce and the legal content of employment decisions will also be studied.

(*Please note: AFP considers successful completion of a survey course a prerequisite for all other AFP-sponsored courses.)