Credential in After School Education

The Credential in After School Education is a professional certification program developed through collaboration among Charter Oak State College, The Connecticut After School Network, and Connecticut Charts-a-Course. The Credential establishes educational and experiential competency standards for specialists in the care and education of children, ages 5 – 15, outside of school hours.

Credential requirements target teaching expertise, program management and professional skills that enable after school personnel to:

• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
• Advance children’s physical and intellectual competence
• Support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance
• Establish positive and productive relationships with families
• Ensure a well-run, purposeful program that is responsive to participant needs
• Maintain a commitment to professionalism

Applicants must have complete four online courses in After School Education, and satisfy the requirement of 240 documented hours of experience in an after school program and complete a professional resource file by taking either a 1-credit practicum course, or a 3-credit field experience course that will include 240 hours of mentored experience in an approved program.

Courses required for the Credential in After School Education:

ASE255: Introduction to After School Care and Education.  This course must be taken first and is offered once every Summer, Fall and Spring semester.  The remaining three courses may be taken in any order.  Students must take either ASE398 or ASE399 but not both.

ASE260:  Program Environment & Curriculum Development in After School Education
ASE265:  Child and Adolescent Development
ASE270:  Supervision and Leadership in After School Education

ASE398:  1-credit Field Experience Practicum
ASE399:  3-credit Field Experience Practicum

The credential courses also form the core courses in the Bachelor Degree concentration in Child and Youth Development.

Credential in After School Education
Course Descriptions

Education requirements for the credential consist of four courses, including two courses focused on the
developmental needs of children ages 5-15, and two courses in program development and supervision plus a field experience practicum. Documented experience is required totaling 240 hours, along with submission of a professional resource file.  All courses are offered online at Charter Oak State College.

ASE 255: Introduction to After School Care and Education: 3 credits.  An overview of the knowledge
and skills necessary to implement a developmentally appropriate after school program for children ages five through twelve.  This course examines established quality standards and best practices and their practical application to daily program practices. 

ASE 260: Program Environment and Curriculum Development in After School Programs: 3 credits. 
Exploration of standards and best practice in the development, planning, and facilitation of the program
environment, activities, and curriculum of after school programs that serve children in elementary and middle school.  Emphasis will be placed on developmentally appropriate programming which links curriculum content with developmental learning goals and outcomes.  

ASE 265: Child and Adolescent Development: 3 credits.   This course includes a study of the principles and theories of normal child growth and development from birth through adolescence. The course will focus on the physical, social, emotional and cognitive domains of development and their application to after school programs.  

ASE 270: Supervision and Leadership in After School Education: 3 credits: This course will explore the qualities and tasks associated with management, supervision, and leadership roles in after school education programs.  Administrative standards will be applied in the development of sound policies and procedure. Emphasis will be placed on understanding leadership styles, differentiating between the skills and various roles of leaders and managers, and developing the skills needed to be an effective supervisor.

ASE 398 or ASE 399: Field Experience Practicum Courses:  Students should take ASE 398 OR ASE 399 depending upon their experience OR by permission of the instructor. Prerequisites: ASE 255, ASE 260, ASE 265, and ASE 270. The field experience is performance based and enables students to earn credit by demonstrating that they have knowledge and competencies in after school education and that they can apply their knowledge in actual situations.  Students will also be required to organize and present for review the Professional Resource File developed during the four courses required for the Credential.

ASE 398: Field Experience Practicum: 1 credit.  This one credit course is for students with 240 hours of documented prior supervised experience who are planning to earn the Credential in After School
Education.  Students will be required to submit a paper reflecting on how they have applied what they have learned in the four courses to their work in an after school program.

ASE 399: Field Experience Practicum: 3 credits.  This 3 credit practicum is for students who wish to complete their field experience requirements for the Credential in After School Education. The student will be required to complete 240 supervised hours of work at an after school program. Students will keep a Reflection Journal during their experience and submit a final paper summarizing their field experience in the after school program.

To download a syllabus: http://www.charteroak.edu/Bb/Syllabus_link_pages/ASE_courses.html
To register for a course: http://www.charteroak.edu/Prospective/Online/coursesearch.cfm