Sec. 10-520. Trend analysis of certain bachelor's degree programs in early childhood education or child development.

(a) As used in this section, “bachelor's degree program in early childhood education or child development” means a bachelor's degree with a concentration in early childhood education, including, but not limited to, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child study, child development or human growth and development.

(b) On and after July 1, 2015, the Office of Early Childhood shall, during a review and assessment pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 10-16p, collect data relating to bachelor's degree programs in early childhood education or child development that have not been approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education and the Office of Early Childhood from institutions of higher education that are regionally accredited. The office shall, at least quarterly, use such data to conduct a trend analysis of such bachelor's degree programs for the purpose of determining (1) whether such bachelor's degree programs align with the teacher preparation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and (2) which courses and concentrations offered as part of such bachelor's degree programs align with such teacher preparation standards.

(c) During a review and assessment pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 10-16p, the office shall (1) review the results of the trend analysis conducted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for the purpose of determining whether the degree of an individual with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or child development or a bachelor's degree and twelve credits or more in early childhood education or child development, other than those bachelor's degrees specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 10-16p, has a sufficient concentration in early childhood education so as to satisfy the requirements set forth in said subparagraphs (B) and (C), and (2) consider an individual to have met the requirements set forth in said subparagraphs (B) and (C) if the degree of such individual is from a bachelor's degree program in early childhood education or child development that is aligned with the teacher preparation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children as determined by such trend analysis.

(d) The office shall make the results of the trend analysis conducted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section available on its Internet web site.

(P.A. 15-134, S. 1; P.A. 16-163, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 15-134 effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-163 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “childhood development” with “child development”, effective June 9, 2016.