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ERIC Number: ED511844
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 27
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Learning Together: A Study of Six B.A. Completion Cohort Programs in Early Care and Education. Year 2 Report. Research Report
Whitebook, Marcy; Sakai, Laura; Kipnis, Fran; Bellm, Dan; Almaraz, Mirella
Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California at Berkeley
Interest in expanding access to higher education has been driven by concerns about ethnic and linguistic stratification within the early childhood workforce, and building a pipeline for diversifying the early care and education (ECE) field's leadership. "Cohort" B.A. completion programs, which target small groups of adults working in ECE to pursue a course of study together and receive a variety of support services including classes scheduled at convenient times and locations, have emerged across California in recent years. This study focuses on six programs in Alameda, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Santa Clara Counties operating at Antioch University, California State University-East Bay, Mills College, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, and the University of La Verne. To demonstrate the outcomes of these efforts, and to inform further policy and program development, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) is conducting a five-year study of all six student cohorts, as well as periodic examinations of institutional change at selected colleges and universities. The Year 1 study found that cohort students participating in the study demonstrated a strong commitment to the early care and education field. Most were women and among the first generation in their families to attend college. Most were also Latino or other people of color. Nearly one-half identified their primary language spoken at home as being other than English--most often Spanish. In Year 2, from both students and faculty, the study team heard a resoundingly positive message about the success of these programs. There was also a striking congruence between the students and institutional perspectives on aspects of these programs that were working well and on the adjustments or improvements that were still needed. In addition to confirming previous research findings about higher education cohort programs for "non-traditional" students, this study is also identifying important issues to consider in future planning of such programs in the ECE field, and in further investigations of this particular student population. For example, students reported that support and encouragement from family members were critical to their ability to juggle the demands of family, work and school--an important advising and counseling issue for institutions to consider when assessing students' readiness to succeed in B.A. completion programs. The authors also learned that students need substantial support, flexibility, and buy-in from their ECE employers. (Contains 6 tables and 11 figures.) [Support for this publication was provided by First 5 Alameda County--Every Child Counts, First 5 San Francisco, First 5 Santa Barbara County, and WestEd's E3 Institute (Advancing Excellence in Early Education). For the Year 1 Report, see ED505291.]
Center for the Study of Child Care Employment. Institute of Industrial Relations, University of California at Berkeley, 2521 Channing Way #5555, Berkeley, CA 94720. Tel: 510-643-7091; Web site: http://www.iir.berkeley.edu/cscce
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Adult Education; Early Childhood Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: University of California, Berkeley, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A