The Early Childhood Education program is closely connected with its communities in preparing a workforce to serve the young children and families in the community. The Early Childhood Education program provides a course of study to prepare the student to work with children from birth through age eight in a variety of early childhood education settings. Our students gain hands-on experience in a variety of early learning settings (home-based programs, center-based programs, early elementary grade (pre-k through third grade) settings, and comprehensive service settings (Head Start and Educare). These settings afford our students the opportunity to interact with children and families from various cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds. Graduates can work as early childhood teachers, assistants, childcare providers, and directors in an early care and education program.

Northeast State offers multiple opportunities for students who wish to pursue a career in early childhood education:

Certificates and degrees available:

The A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education prepares the student for a career in child care and early education. The program includes both educational theory and the practical application of learning. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver appropriate programming for young children (birth through age 8) and their families. 

Program outcomes for the A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education are based on the Professional Standards and Competencies of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

• Promoting child development and learning
• Building family/teacher and community connections
• Observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families
• Using developmentally appropriate practices
• Using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum
• Becoming a professional

To become a licensed teacher in pre-K and kindergarten through third grade classrooms in the state of Tennessee, students must complete a four-year degree in a teacher education program. The Associate of Science in Teaching, Pre K-3, follows a common curriculum established by the TBR early childhood education programs.

Tennessee Transfer Path to UT/TBR four year universities in compliance with Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010.

Additional Information

• Candidate Learning Objectives and Outcome Data 2023
• Early Childhood Education Survey
• Articulation Agreements Available

Program Outcome Data

Outcome Measure #1: The Number of Program Completers 

Reporting Academic Year 2023-2024
· Number of program completers: 9
· % of program completers who were attending full-time (at the time of completion): 55.56%
· % of program completers who were attending part-time1 (at the time of completion): 44.44% 

Reporting Academic Year 2022-2023
· Number of program completers: 11
· % of program completers who were attending full-time (at the time of completion): 54.55%
· % of program completers who were attending part-time1 (at the time of completion): 45.45% 

Reporting Academic Year 2021-2022
· Number of program completers: 10
· % of program completers who were attending full-time (at the time of completion): 80%
· % of program completers who were attending part-time1 (at the time of completion): 20% 

Outcome Measure #2: The Program Completion Rate

Reporting Academic Year 2018-2019 (Fall 2018 cohort of full-time candidates enrolled in the program)
· Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 150% of the published timeframe: 29.41%
· Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 300% (three times the published timeframe): 29.41% 

Reporting Academic Year 2017-2018 (Fall 2017 cohort of full-time candidates enrolled in the program)
· Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 150% of the published timeframe: 20%
· Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 300% (three times the published timeframe): 20% 

Reporting Academic Year 2016-2017 (Fall 2016 cohort of full-time candidates enrolled in the program
· Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 150% of the published timeframe: 23.53%
· Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 300% (three times the published timeframe): 23.53% 

Outcome Measure #3: Institutional Selected Data (The fall-to-fall retention rate in the program for each of the three most recently completed academic years)

Reporting Academic Year 2022-2023 (Fall 2022)
· % of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment): 36.59%
o Retention Rate among Part-Time Candidates: 46.67%
· % of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment): 63.41%
o Retention Rate among Full-Time Candidates: 61.54% 

Reporting Academic Year 2021-2022 (Fall 2021)
· % of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment): 44.93%
o Retention Rate among Part-Time Candidates: 41.94%
· % of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment): 55.07%
o Retention Rate among Full-Time Candidates: 55.26% 

Reporting Academic Year 2020-2021 (Fall 2020)
· % of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment): 54.41%
o Retention Rate among Part-Time Candidates: 51.35%
· % of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment): 45.59%
o Retention Rate among Full-Time Candidates: 54.84%

Mitzi Neeley, Coordinator
Early Childhood Education
Telephone: 423.354.2550
MINeeley@NortheastState.edu

The Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the (NAEYC) National Association for the Education of Young Children.

NAEYC
1313 L Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone 202.232.8777

Accreditation Information

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education at Northeast State Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, 1401 H St. NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20005. The current accreditation term runs from March 2020 through March 2027.