The Child Development Center at Western Nevada College provides adults the opportunity to work in early childhood education, helping them grow and develop cognitively, physically and social-emotionally.
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The state of child care in Nevada is in need of support.
Close to 65% of Nevada’s children ages 0-5 live in households with all parents in the workforce. This puts demand on the community to provide high-quality environments for children to learn and grow.
Western Nevada College is working to address this problem by announcing a new scholarship opportunity beginning the spring semester for those interested in pursuing a profession in the field of early childhood education.
The Early Childhood Education Scholarship is designed to educate Nevadans who are passionate about teaching and guiding young children as they grow and develop cognitively, physically and social-emotionally.
This program equips individuals with the skills, knowledge and credentials in the field of early childhood education.
The scholarship program is a collaboration between WNC and the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation. Funding has been arranged to provide scholarships to 100 students the first year and 175 for the second year. Individuals interested in the program can apply at wnc.edu/ece.
WNC is working to partner with child care providers in Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties to establish real-life learning opportunities for students to exercise their early childhood skills in a safe and supportive environment.
The ECE scholarship is open to anyone interested in learning about early childhood education. The scholarship will cover all tuition costs and other fees associated with gaining employment in childcare.
Participants can apply for two skills certificates:
• Skills certificate 1: A student will earn 7.5 college credits in introduction to early childhood education, principles of child guidance, CPR certification and other initial training required for Nevada Child Care licensing.
• Skills certificate 2: Students will earn 10 additional credits covering curriculum in ECE, understanding students with special needs, communicating with families and a site-based preschool (or infant/toddler) internship experience.
All courses can be taken online and are self-paced. Students will have the opportunity to complete each skill certification at their own pace and can complete the program in as little as eight weeks per certificate.
Students who qualify for the ECE scholarship will also receive training in other life skills, including resumé building, soft skills and interview skills.
For information, call Ali Cooper at 775-445-3376 or email allison.cooper@wnc.edu.