Castleton University is partnering with the Vermont Early Childhood Consortium to offer the Early Childhood Summer Institute onJuly 24-27, 2017. The institute consists of 10 simultaneous classes offered by 10 different Vermont Institutions. The courses are designed to promote Vermont’s core values for early education and to meet the needs of teachers of all levels. A strong emphasis is placed on courses that assist teachers in obtaining or retaining licenses and endorsements.
It is anticipated that more than 200 childcare providers, supervisors, and experts will attend the institute, many staying on campus for the entire program. A preeminent feature of the institute is the cooperative spirit of Vermont’s Colleges and Universities, parent and child centers, childcare institutions, and state agencies, many of whom are taking responsibility for offering a course. This emerging partnership is expected to launch even deeper connections among and between the Higher Education institutions, thus helping even more early educators in coming years.
The strands and course offerings include an emphasis on early literacy, legal and financial issues, social and emotional development, family and community engagement, science in the early years, advanced child development, trauma-sensitive practices, curriculum development in STEM, and early childhood special education.
Research clearly demonstrates that returns on the investment in early childhood are incredibly high. The institute brings together 14 diverse Institutions of Higher Education and Early Childhood, to sponsor 10 graduate/undergraduate courses and is a project of the even larger Higher Education-Early Childhood Consortium which seeks to assure that all of our young children and their families have the support of excellent teachers.
Those expected to attend are experienced teachers of children from birth through third grade and many are first-time college attendees receiving scholarships from several other collaborative partners such as: TEACH, Child Development Division, VSAC, and individual schools and programs.
Members of the media are encouraged to attend the opening onJuly 24when Castleton President Dave Wolk and Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges Jeb Spaulding will address the students at9 am in the Castleton University Fine Arts Center.
For more information, please contact Dr. Ric Reardon, Director of Education, at802-468-1234or at[email protected]