Paraeducation
Interested in a rewarding career that makes a difference? Great teachers work with families and communities, educating, guiding, and inspiring all of our children to their full potential! At Highline, you’ll find programs that prepare you for a broad range of careers working with children and families, from birth through middle-school. With courses offered in the evenings, on the weekend, and online, the program meets the needs of new practitioners and working professionals alike.
Career
Earning a certificate or degree in Education builds the knowledge and skills necessary to promote all aspects of a child’s development and learning. Educators work with children, families, and communities in a variety of roles including infant/toddler programs, preschools, Head Starts, ECEAPs, and elementary (K-8) schools. Graduates with this degree may also find careers as coaches, trainers, or family support specialists.
Bachelors Degrees
Earning a BAS in ECE prepares you for a leadership role in early learning. Graduates pursue careers as center directors and owners, childcare licensors, state trainers, lead teachers at Head Starts and ECEAPs, and family services managers.
PDF Program Map
- Use knowledge of individual children and child development theory to promote learning
Develop strategies to learn more about individual children (families, languages, abilities, culture, etc)
Use knowledge of child development and individual children to create equitable, supportive, and challenging learning environments for young children
Create curriculum that builds resilience in children, inclusivity, and pushes back against systems that may harm children (racism, classism, trauma, poverty, etc) – - Engage families and communities in the education of young children
Value diverse family structures, languages, cultures and norms
Create reciprocal and authentic family and community partnerships - Observe, document, and assess learning to support development
Link the purpose of observation to curriculum planning and assessment to teaching strategies
Explore how assessment can be harmful to children and how to use assessment responsibly
Share information with families and other service providers - Use a wide array of developmentally, culturally, and linguistically sustaining approaches, strategies and tools to connect with children and families.
Describe the importance of relationships in teaching and learning
Use research-based strategies, tools, and approaches that support the cultural, linguistic, and individual development of the children in the classroom
Develop a habit of reflecting on practice, changing strategies and approaches as necessary to support children and families - Use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum.
Use the central concepts and tools of a wide range of academic disciplines: language and literacy; the arts – music, creative movement, dance, drama, visual arts; mathematics; science, physical activity, physical education, health and safety; and social studies.
Use early learning standards, integrating anti-bias strategies
Design, implement, and evaluate curriculum - Identify with the profession and conduct themselves professionally
Uphold ethical standards in classroom and practicum communities
Engage in advocacy for children, families, and the field
Department/Program URL:
https://education.highline.edu/programs/bas-early-learning/
GPA Requirement:
All individual classes must be completed with a 2.0 or better to apply for certificates or degrees.
Number of Credits:
181 credits
Degree or Certificate Learning Outcomes:
Top Transfer-To institutions
- Eastern Washington University
- Antioch University
Important Dates or Milestones Specific to Degree/Certificate
N/A
Key Advisors
Associates Degrees
Paraeducators, also known as Educational Support Professionals (ESP), work alongside certificated teachers, supporting and assisting in a K-12 classroom. This degree prepares you for a career and offers you a seamless transition into BAS in Elementary Education.
PDF Program Map
Department/Program URL:
https://education.highline.edu/programs
GPA Requirement:
All individual classes must be completed with a 2.0 or better to apply to certificates or degrees.
Number of Credits:
91
Degree or Certificate Learning Outcomes:
- Standard 1: Support educational outcomes.
- Standard 2: Demonstrate professionalism and ethical practices
- Standard 3: Support a positive and safe learning environment
- Standard 4: Communicate effectively and participate in the team process
- Standard 5: Demonstrate cultural competencies
Top Transfer-To institutions
- Highline College – BAS in Teaching and Early Learning (Elementary Education Certification)
- HIghline College – BAS in Teaching and Early Learning (Early Childhood Education)
- North Seattle College – BAS in Early Childhood Education
Important Dates or Milestones Specific to Degree/Certificate
N/A