UW-Whitewater College of Education Accelerated Add-on Early Childhood (regular education) Licensure Summer 2023

Are you a teacher in Wisconsin who holds a current MC/EA license and would like to add an Early Childhood: Regular Education license (Early Childhood Education 1777)? There is increased awareness of the importance of early childhood education as evidenced in the number of schools offering four-year-old kindergarten. This accelerated program in early childhood education at the graduate level provides an efficient way to add on the K developmental level. In addition, the cohort of classes (12 credits) provides a foundation for earning the MSE in Early Childhood Education Policy at UWW.

Details about the add-on licensure coursework for the summer of 2023:

All courses will be offered on-line via Canvas
The courses will be offered between June 12 and August 12 (three, three-week courses and a nine-week practicum)
- All of the required coursework must be completed by August 4th. Further explanation will be given to those students enrolled in this program
There will be two synchronous (real time) video meetings with the faculty. The first meeting is on June 7 (5:00 pm to 7:00 pm CT) and a second meeting on July 5(5:00 pm to 7:00 pm CT). An invitation will be sent prior to the meetings.
At the first meeting we will cover the content of the courses and offer training on the use of Canvas for new users. The second meeting is a check-in point and overview for completion of the summer module of courses.
Students must enroll in all four of the courses unless approved by the faculty.
Students must complete a practicum during the summer of 2023.
- The practicum is a minimum of 100 hours
- Students are responsible for finding a practicum placement and the coordinator (Lucy Heimer) will review the proposed placement. Proposed practicum sites must be emailed to Lucy by May 31, 2023 (heimerl@uww.edu). Please consider the following options:

Public school summer school for children four or five years old OR

Childcare setting for children four or five years old OR
Preschool for children four or five years old OR
Other placement approved by coordinator
Additional placement approval criteria:
- Must video record teaching three times during the placement. Approval (from the school/families) to video record in the placement is required (video permission form will be available once enrolled on the Canvas site).
- Must have a cooperating teacher on site with at least three years of teaching experience.
- Cooperating teachers must hold a current, valid State of Wisconsin teaching license. They will observe the student’s teaching at least once and offer written feedback in the form of a final evaluation emailed to the instructor of the practicum.

Additional Requirements (to be addressed in this suggested order to ensure all criteria are met for licensure):

Students must hold a current MC/EA Wisconsin Teaching License
- If teachers hold a license that is neither a Wisconsin or MC/EA, send an email to Lucy to discuss further

Students should pass the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading exam prior to beginning courses (required for licensure and UWW will not endorse your application for licensure until this exam is passed). Please note that you can take the courses prior to passing the exam but endorsement from UWW will not take place until we receive a student’s passing scores.
- Please see the following website for information regarding the tests
  - http://www.wi.nesinc.com/

Students must be admitted to the University of Wisconsin School of Graduate Studies before they will be allowed to register for classes
- Please see the following:
  - If you are interested in only taking the twelve credits during the summer of 2023 you should apply as a Non-Candidate For Degree or NCFD If you choose to complete a master’s level program you will need to apply to the MSE – Early Childhood Education Policy (MSE-ECEP).
- Additional information regarding the MSE Early Childhood Education Policy is found
Those who already hold a Wisconsin DPI teacher's license have automatic admission to the College of Education and Professional Studies.
Students will be allowed to register only after the following have been completed and returned to Lucy via email (heimerl@uww.edu). Please send all forms together in one mailing, if possible:
- Program Plan (with student’s name inserted) on website
- Copies of official transcripts and teaching license
- The Practicum Application can be sent separately, but requires signatures. The practicum application is on the website (video forms must be emailed as soon as the summer practicum starts).
- The above materials are due no later than May 31st

Students must pass all courses in order to be recommended for the add on license

Courses students will take in the summer of 2023 include:

EARLYCHD 711, Early Childhood Education: From Theory to Practice – Three Credits (Graded)
A study of the historical and theoretical foundations, current models and practices, and research regarding early childhood education.
EARLYCHD 713, Trends in Curriculum for the Preschool/Primary Child – Three Credits (Graded)
This course is designed to give students skills to develop, implement and evaluate curriculum for children from ages 3-8.
EARLYCHD 714, Current Issues in Early Childhood Education – Three Credits (Graded)
Identification of significant issues and consideration of research having an impact on emerging trends as well as current practices in early childhood education.
CIFLD 793, Practicum (Elementary) – Three Credits (Register Pass/Fail)
Prereq: Graduate status, application, completion of 9 credits at UW-Whitewater, and signed licensing plan (Not to be used for first-time certification).

Some possible questions:

Why must all classes be taken during the summer of 2023?
- Although there are four separate courses – there will be a Canvas site where all of the information for all of the classes will be found. All assignments will integrate the content from all of the courses and all of the courses will be team taught by two instructors. Each course will be assigned specific assignments so that grading will be possible but otherwise, it is the instructors’ hope that the courses will be seamless. If a student only takes one, the online discussions and assignments may be difficult to complete.

I am very interested in this add-on license but I am not able to do it this summer – will it be offered again in 2024?
- Whether or not this will be offered in 2024 will be based on interest and the current early childhood education faculty. The decision to offer or not offer this add-on license in the summer of 2024 will be determined in spring of 2024.

What is the cost of the program?
- To find out the cost (or estimated cost depending on when you check) for twelve graduate credits at UW-Whitewater, please go to: https://uwwcost.uww.edu/
- If you enroll in the MSE ECEP you will be charged the service-based pricing at $569 USD per credit for the 2023-24 academic year regardless of in-state or out-of-state residency.

I am interested in the add-on license, but can I also use these courses toward a Master’s Degree?
- Yes, the twelve credits can be applied to the Master of Science in Education – Early Childhood Education Policy (MSE-ECEP). In addition to the summer module (12 Credits), an additional 18 credits will be taken.

CIGENRL/EDFOUND 723, Issues, Perspectives & Directions: A Professional Seminar in Education (3 credits)

EDFOUND 780, Reading, Analyzing and Evaluating Educational Research (3 credits)

EDUINDP 789, Capstone Project Seminar (3 credits)

CIGENRL 696 Special Studies

CIGENRL 796 Special Studies

Additional Courses in Content Area to Reach a Minimum of 30 Credits (to be decided upon in conjunction with advisor)

CIGENRL 715 Applied Theory to Practice for Curriculum and Instruction

CIGENRL 710 Current Topics in Curriculum and Instruction (3 Credits)

EDFOUND 710 Education in a Pluralistic Society (3 Credits)

SPECED 703 Promoting Reform Through Collaborative Leadership (3 Credits)

SPECED 766 Professional Collaborations: Families and Community Agencies (3 Credits)

Can I complete the entire MSE- ECEP online?
- Yes!

What do I do once I receive passing grades on all four courses to obtain my additional license?
- Please see the COEPS licensure program website for links to explain the process of applying for a teaching licensure.
- Please take the time to review all of the materials and if you can’t find your answer, please email education@uww.edu.

Lucy Heimer must grant approval before a student is able to enroll in the summer courses. If interested, please start the paperwork now and submit your materials ASAP to heimerl@uww.edu.

Students will be sent an email when all the required paperwork has been received, reviewed and approved.
- Program Plan (attached)
- Practicum Application (attached), signatures required.
Students will be sent an email when they can register for the four classes. Please note that this add on program is limited to fifteen students (there must be a minimum number of students registered to offer the courses) and priority for registering will be determined when the required paperwork is submitted to Lucy.

Questions regarding this add on license should be directed to Lucy Heimer (heimerl@uww.edu).

Please email a digital copy of your complete application to: heimerl@uww.edu

Secondarily, originals may be mailed to:

Summer Program Add-on ECE

Lucinda Heimer

UW-Whitewater

3033 Winther Hall

800 West Main Street

Whitewater, WI 53190