3 semester credits

Involvement in public policy and advocacy efforts help foster the well-being of young children and families as well as the field of early childhood education. Effective involvement in the field of early childhood education, however, requires a foundational understanding of the system, its functions, and all its parts. In this course, education professionals examine the complexities of the early childhood infrastructure from local, state, national, and international perspectives. They explore, discuss, and blog about a variety of topics, such as public opinion with regard to the value and importance of providing quality services; parent, family, and community engagement; influence of current sociocultural, economic, and political contextual factors; and personal perspectives and reflections on the bonds of a collaborative learning community. Education professionals also analyze case studies to understand policy formation; connections between policies, politics, government; and allocation of funds.