Welcome to Lakeland Community College's early childhood education department. Our goal is to prepare early childhood teachers with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to provide developmentally appropriate care for young children. Upon completion, eligible graduates may apply for Pre-K Associate Teacher Licensure by the Ohio Department of Education and teaching positions in the community.
	
	The program also provides students with the skills for employment as family child care providers and to work with children with special needs.
The Early Childhood Education program is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education for Prekindergarten Associate Teacher. The Early Childhood Education program offers students the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education with the option for prekindergarten licensure when additional requirements have been met.
View program outcome data here.
Training is available to child care centers, preschools, and other early educational programs in Northeast Ohio. Courses are offered days and evenings to fulfill in-service training requirements.
     
    I graduated with my associate degree from Lakeland while at the same time graduating as Valedictorian from high school. I plan to attend the Holden University Center to complete my bachelor's degree in criminal justice. 
    Layce Artman 
    College Credit Plus
     
    One thing I really love about Lakeland and being in the honors program is that the teachers have small classes and they are very devoted to their students. My friends at four-year institutions are taking the same intro classes that I am, but in large lecture halls with a lot more students. 
    Michelle Timms 
    Associate of Arts