McDaniel College to address pre-K teacher shortage with new program this fall
McDaniel College to address pre-K teacher shortage with new program this fall Baltimore Sun
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A New Early Education Bachelor’s Degree Program at McDaniel College
A new early education bachelor’s degree program at McDaniel College in Westminster, available this fall, aims to address the need for more qualified prekindergarten teachers.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a state law that fundamentally aims to send more resources to students who need them, mandates expanded prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income households, among other ambitious initiatives.
Program Development
“We started the early childhood program in a direct response to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” said McDaniel Assistant Dean of Education Tracey Lucas.
McDaniel College announced last month that the program has been approved by the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Higher Education Commission, as required. McDaniel consulted with partner institutions in developing the program, and Lucas said support from Carroll County Public Schools and Carroll Community College will be instrumental in debuting the program successfully.
Experiential Learning Component
McDaniel’s current education program offerings include a practical education component in partnership with the public school system, in which college students take a semester-long internship to learn from mentor teachers while embedded in one of Carroll’s public schools. Lucas said the experiential component is critical for developing prospective teachers into qualified professionals.
Collaboration with Carroll Community College
Carroll Community College provides the opportunity for early and elementary education students to work in childcare in exchange for tuition, fees, and books provided by Maryland’s Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund. All are free for students, provided they complete their degree and a service commitment in a Maryland licensed childcare program. The community college’s early childhood education program director, professor Carole Williamson, said students who transfer from the community college to four-year institutions such as McDaniel will continue to receive a free education.
Pathway to Certification
The new program will be a pathway for teachers to become certified to educate students in prekindergarten through third grade. Lucas said there is some overlap between the new program and McDaniel’s existing elementary education program, which is geared toward preparing students to teach grades one through six.
Partnership with Carroll County Public Schools
Carroll County Public Schools stated its plan to work with McDaniel College for workforce development initiatives last July, as part of the system’s first annual Blueprint implementation plan. According to the plan, Carroll will use high school spaces to provide prekindergarten services.
Estimated Costs and Graduation Expectations
It is estimated that the Blueprint will require Carroll County to spend $1.3 million to expand prekindergarten. Since the fall of 2020, McDaniel has added 13 new majors, including actuarial science, American Sign Language, applied mathematics, biochemistry, biomedical science, criminal justice, food studies, international business, marketing, and writing/publishing. Lucas said she expects the education program to attract 10-15 students this fall, including transfer students and incoming freshmen. Once the program has had several years to become well-established, 20-25 early childhood education majors are expected to graduate from McDaniel each year.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education | The article mentions the expansion of prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income households as part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. This initiative aims to provide access to quality early childhood education. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations | The article does not mention any specific indicators related to this target. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender sensitive and provide safe, nonviolent, inclusive, and effective learning environments for all | The article does not mention any specific indicators related to this target. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.c: By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing states | The article discusses the new early education bachelor’s degree program at McDaniel College, which aims to address the need for more qualified prekindergarten teachers. This program will contribute to increasing the supply of qualified teachers in early childhood education. |
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Source: baltimoresun.com
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