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Early Childhood Education: Educator Assistant - Certificate (F15)

(F15) Certificate

The Early Childhood Education certificate program will assist individuals in securing the education and credentials needed to obtain employment in child care facilities. This certificate has been developed to assist persons to meet the minimal requirements for approval as an early childhood assistant.

This program aligns to the Gateways ECE Level 2 requirements which include completion of a high school diploma or GED to be credentialed.

Credential Program Description

Students enrolled in Early Childhood programs at Sauk Valley Community College will be eligible to complete credentials through Gateways to Opportunities state professional development system for ECE levels 2, 3 and 4. Benefits of this credentialing process increase a student's employability through ACCESS Illinois and makes students eligible for scholarship opportunities and wage differentials.

Work and Employment

The early childhood education program is designed to educate professionals for a diverse and challenging field. Employment opportunities for graduates of the early childhood education program are very positive, whether pursuing a career in group day care or preschool settings, or in family care.

Criminal History Check Policy

Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

All students entering the initial observation course must first submit to a criminal background check (CBC). You will be notified by the College of the fees, date, time and location of the finger printing process. In addition, students listed on the Illinois Sex Offenders Registry, Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Registry and the National Sex Offenders Registry will be denied entrance into these programs.

If any of the above returns with an incident "hit", you will be notified and need to see a designated counselor who will review your results and review how it might affect your ability to participate in the program. An adverse decision may be appealed through the institutional academic appeal process.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College
Academic Advising, 815/835-6354;
Janis Jones, Assistant Professor of Education, 815/835-6410.

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