About the Early Childhood Leadership Certificate
Arcadia University’s 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership (ECL) is designed to provide leaders in early childhood education the tools they need to manage change in this quickly evolving field. Students learn to initiate and implement best practices to manage human resources and finances within their organizations, using data-driven decision making. Through this certificate program, Arcadia is a leader in fostering the broad-based goals of Pennsylvania’s early childhood education initiatives to produce highly qualified leaders in the field.
The Profession
Early Childhood education is undergoing a transformation in both levels of professionalism and expectations. To manage this change, leaders need to implement solid business practices in providing quality early education and integrating performance and fiscal standards into program design. Pennsylvania uses the PA Inspired Leadership (PIL) Training for School and Early Childhood Program Leaders and is implementing a closer alignment of early education within the K-12 school system. Acknowledging this connection, all four of the courses in Arcadia University’s Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership use the PIL standards as an important backbone of course content.
The Program
Arcadia’s Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership helps existing leaders in the field hone their skills in managing change, supervising teaching and learning, and managing fiscal and human resources effectively. The program focuses on preparing early childhood leaders to affect real change in their organizations that will nurture the teacher-parent-child relationship and positively influence the community at large.
Classes are taught by highly qualified instructors in educational leadership and students of the program will learn to integrate the following skills into their professional lives:
- Methodology for teacher supervision
- Use of teacher evaluation feedback to increase learning outcomes
- Management of budgets
- Management of multiple revenue sources
- Management of employees within the organization
- Conflict resolution
- Use of data to initiate positive change within the organization
The Early Childhood Leadership program is designed for current and future leaders in the field of early childhood education. With early childhood education undergoing a transformation in both expectations and levels of professionalism, EC leaders need to be well prepared. Arcadia’s program prepares such professionals to manage change, implement solid business practices, and integrate performance and fiscal standards into program design. For additional EC leadership development, Arcadia’s Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership uses the PA Inspired Leadership (PIL) Training for School and Early Childhood Program Leaders as the backbone of course content to help leaders hone their skills in managing change, supervising teaching and learning, and managing fiscal and human resources effectively.
Pathways to Master Degree in Education
The 12 credits earned in this certificate program may be applied to a M.Ed. degree program with a concentration in Educational Leadership or as a Modular Master program where students combine two Graduate Education Certificates.
Return to: