Child Development

Carrie Nepstad

Program Coordinator

Child DevelopmentThe Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education is accredited by the Commission on Early Childhood Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
The Child Development Program at Harold Washington College provides an excellent starting point for a career in education. The A.A.S. degree and Advanced Certificate seekers receive knowledgeable instruction, methodology, and insight in all aspects of developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children.
 
In addition, Harold Washington College offers specialized training for educators who want to focus on the very youngest children.  The Advanced Certificate in Infant and Toddler Care offers students coursework that focuses on children ages zero to three.
 
All of the degrees and certificates in the Child Development Program are aligned with the Illinois Credential System through Gateways to Opportunity.  These credentials are recognized by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Family Services.  Licensed child care centers and homes seek professionals who have earned credentials through the Gateways System.  For more information about the credentials, visit: https://www.ilgateways.com/credentials                     
   
AAS – Pre-school Education                      
   
AA – Pre-School Education                     
                
Advanced Certificate – Pre-School Education                      
                 
Advanced Certificate – Infant Toddler Care                     
 
Gateways to Opportunity Credentials

City Colleges of Chicago’s certificate and degree programs in Early Childhood Education, Human Development and Family Studies, Infant Toddler Education, and Director Preparation are entitled for credentials through the Illinois Gateway to Opportunity Professional Development System. For more information see Illinois Gateways to Opportunity​‘s website. 

For information about Gateways Credentials at City Colleges of Chicago Contact Carrie Nepstad, at cnepstad@ccc.edu.
 
NAEYC Accreditation
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education is accredited by the Commission on Early Childhood Education Programs of the National Associate for the Education of Young Children, 1401 H Street Suite 600, Washington DC, 20005. (800) 424-2460. The accreditation term runs from March 2022 to March 2029.
 
Program Effectiveness Outcomes Data

Program Completers

Academic Year

Number of Program Completers

% of program completers who were attending full-time (at the time of completion)

% of program completers who were attending part-time (at the time of completion)

2022-2023

12

41.7%

58.3%

2023-2024

8

37.5%

62.5%

2024-2025

17

23.5%

76.5%

 

Published Program Timeframe:  5 semesters, 2.5 academic years

Academic year in which a Fall cohort of full-time candidates enrolled in the program (select three sequential years)

Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 150% of the published timeframe

Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within (select one measure):

100% (exactly the published timeframe)

X 200% (twice the published timeframe) or 

300% (three times the published timeframe) 

2018-2019

0%

27.2%

2019-2020

26.7%

28.0%

2020-2021

20.0%

20.0% (200%)

 

Fall-to fall retention rate in the program for the three most completed academic years

Academic Year

% of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment)

Retention Rate among Part-Time Candidates

% of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment)

Retention Rate among Full-Time Candidates

2022-2023

80.8%

66.7%

19.2%

80.0%

2023-2024

83.3%

64.0%

16.7%

80.0%

2024-2025

72.5%

55.2%

27.5%

81.8%

 

Student Learning Outcomes Performance Data

Spring 2025 CHLD DV 259-1 AA HW KA6-259 Professional Inquiry Groups Rubric Meets Emerging (Does not meet yet) Does not meet
  NAEYC 2a Consider the diversity of families, their funds of knowledge and the many factors that impact children, families and communities. Why is it important for early childhood educators to understand that each family is unique? Reflecting on . . . 6 1 0
  NAEYC 2b Describe some ways early childhood educators can collaborate as partners with families through respectful, reciprocal relationships and facilitating engagement. Reflecting on your practicum experience: describe an example where . . . 6 1 0
  NAEYC 2c Identify a specific organization/agency and describe the steps you will take to build a respectful, reciprocal partnership that would help children get to know their neighborhood and/or support children and family . . . 6 1 0
         
Spring 2025 CHLD DV 201 SUW HW KA2-201 Learning Story Rubric Meets Emerging (Does not meet yet) Does not meet
  NAEYC 2a How did sharing the Learning Story with the family help you to understand and to value the diversity of families? What is unique about this family and their funds. . . 4 2 1
  NAEYC 2b When you invited the family to provide their own understanding of the Learning Story, how did you ensure that it was a reciprocal conversation as opposed to a one-way communication? What did the family contribute. . . 5 1 1
  NAEYC 2c List three types of resources from the community where the site is located. Select at least one resource and explain why you feel this would benefit the child and family. Describe your strategy for partnering with them to. . . 4 3 0
         
Fall 2025 CHLD DV 259-1 HH HW KA6-259 Professional Inquiry Groups Rubric Meets Emerging (Does not meet yet) Does not meet
  NAEYC 2a Consider the diversity of families, their funds of knowledge and the many factors that impact children, families and communities. Why is it important for early childhood educators to understand that each family is unique? Reflecting on . . . 7 1 0
  NAEYC 2b Describe some ways early childhood educators can collaborate as partners with families through respectful, reciprocal relationships and facilitating engagement. Reflecting on your practicum experience: describe an example where . . . 7 1 0
  NAEYC 2c Identify a specific organization/agency and describe the steps you will take to build a respectful, reciprocal partnership that would help children get to know their neighborhood and/or support children and family . . . 8 0 0
         
Fall 2025 CHLD DV 201 WW40 HW KA2-201 Learning Story Rubric Meets Emerging (Does not meet yet) Does not meet
  NAEYC 2a Consider the diversity of families, their funds of knowledge and the many factors that impact children, families and communities. Why is it important for early childhood educators to understand that each family is unique? Reflecting on . . .      
  NAEYC 2b Describe some ways early childhood educators can collaborate as partners with families through respectful, reciprocal relationships and facilitating engagement. Reflecting on your practicum experience: describe an example where . . .      
  NAEYC 2c Identify a specific organization/agency and describe the steps you will take to build a respectful, reciprocal partnership that would help children get to know their neighborhood and/or support children and family . . .