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Industry Certification and State Accreditation

The Industry Certification Evaluation Team carefully reviewed documentation, interviewed instructors and students and observed the program.  The Georgia Association on Young Children (GAYC) Board of Directors met on April 18, 2009 and discussed the results.  Based on the review of the evaluation and the recommendation of the GAYC evaluation Team, the GAYC Board voted to award ECE Industry Certification to Habersham Central High School.  In particular, the team was very impressed with the quality of training instruction and staff qualifications, learning resources and equipment, students and their organization activities and the preschool lab which is "a model for best practices."

Early Childhood Education Program receives "Stamp of Excellence"

Press Release:   May 19, 2009 – Only those programs that have successfully undergone rigorous reviews by leaders from business and industry are awarded Industry Certification. “We applaud HCHS Early Childhood Education Program for their dedication in meeting nationally recognized standards for preschool children and offering an exceptional career pathway in early childhood for high schools students,” states Dr. Pat Minish, Executive Director of the Georgia Association on Young Children and Evaluation Team Leader.  This formal process strengthens all program components including: high school classrooms and preschool labs which are equipped with state-of-the-art materials, equipment and technology; Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) and academic performance standards that are aligned to national standards; in-depth, project-based instruction in all curriculum areas including career related education; Career and Technical Student Organizations which offer co-curricular competitive events on the local, state and national level and provide leadership development skills and business; and industry and community involvement in all aspects of the program.  The State Department of Education (DOE) is committed to and supports the industry certification process as a part of its effort to strengthen technical and academic standards for all CTAE programs. Through the industry certification process, schools are better able to align curriculum with recognized standards. DOE’s Laura Ergle concurs, “The student is ensured participation in a program that has been carefully interfaced with current industry standards thus helping to increase their qualifications toward successful employment.” Students in the Early Childhood Education Career Pathway at Habersham Central High School examine child-related careers, assume responsibility and leadership roles and learn to plan healthy, safe, developmentally appropriate learning environments for young children. Research shows that preschoolers attending well planned, high quality programs are more likely to develop the language, pre- mathematics and social skills they need to succeed in school.  ECE Industry Certification standards are developed collaboratively by the Georgia Department of Education Program Specialists and the Georgia Association on Young Children, state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the largest organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of early education programs.

 

The Northeast Georgian

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Exclusive Accomplishment!

The ECE program at HCHS is the first one in the state like it {with an on-site child development center} that passed accreditation 2008-2009 on the first evaluation!