Child Care & Education

The Child Care and Education Career Academy is a skills/attitude-based program designed to assist graduating students in acquiring knowledge, skills, and appreciations essential to working in the fast-paced and rapidly changing field of education and child care. Credits earned in this academy will help the graduate enroll in a two-year Associate of Arts Program designed to prepare candidates for a career as a paraprofessional educator, daycare provider, educator.

Download Course Requirements
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Graduation Requirements

All students must complete a real-world experience and a Work Seminar course in addition to the coursework listed below.

Bronze Medal

  • Child Care & Education
  • Psychology of Human Behavior
  • First Aid & CPR

Silver Medal

  • Child Care & Education
  • Psychology of Human Behavior
  • First Aid & CPR
  • Child in the Family OR Life on Your Own

Gold Medal

  • Child Care & Education
  • Psychology of Human Behavior
  • First Aid & CPR
  • Child in the Family OR Life on Your Own
  • American Sign Language I
  • American Sign Language II*

*ASL I and II are required for the program at Northwest Technical College

Career Options

Daycare and Preschool learning programs are a rapidly growing area of employment. Paraprofessional educators are often employed by school districts and private education agencies to help students succeed in coursework and academic/personal challenges.

Job Outlook

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Academy Instructor

Kristi Ellingson
Kristi Ellingson

Job Skills

In addition to having job-related skills, employers expect their paraprofessional educators to have other skills such as:

  • Listening Skills
  • Effective Communication
  • Digital Citizenship
    Problem-solving Skills
  • Time Management
  • Manage Instructional Resources
  • Professionalism
  • Integrity

Postsecondary Programs

Upon Successful completion of this program, trainees are eligible for enrollment in college, community college, or technical college programs in programs that will lead to careers as a childcare provider, paraprofessional, and educator.

Business and Industry Experiences/Partners

Students in the academy will study how children learn. Students will learn how a child’s growth and development is affected positively and negatively by the child’s environment and the care the child receives. They will job shadow in various paraprofessional roles and successfully complete a semester internship in an educational or daycare setting. They may participate in paraprofessional educator training offered by Bemidji Area School and will be considered for employment at the conclusion of their AA/postsecondary program.

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