Education, Child Development & Family Services
The Education, Child Development, and Family Services sector provides students with the academic and technical preparation to pursue high-skill, high-demand careers in these related and growing industries. The sector encompasses four distinct, yet interrelated, career pathways: Child Development, Consumer Services, Education, and Family and Human Services. The Child Development pathway provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue careers in child care and related fields, and the Education pathway emphasizes the preparation of students to become teachers. The Consumer Services pathway gives students the employment and management skills needed in careers that involve helping consumers. The Family and Human Services pathway provides students with skills needed for careers related to family and social services. The standards are designed to integrate academic and career technical concepts. The anchor standards include Consumer and Family Studies comprehensive technical knowledge and skills that prepare students for learning in the pathways. The knowledge and skills are acquired within a sequential, standards-based pathway program that integrates hands-on projects, work-based instruction, and leadership development—for example, through Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Standards in the Education, Child Development, and Family Services sector are designed to prepare students for technical training, postsecondary education, and entry to a career.
Child Development Pathway
The Child Development pathway is designed to prepare students to pursue a career in the field of child care and development for infants, toddlers, and young children. Students study child growth and development, safety and emergency procedures, nutrition and health practices, positive interaction and guidance techniques, learning theories, and developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum activities. Students apply this knowledge in a variety of early childhood programs, such as child development laboratories, public and private preschools, family day care settings, and recreational facilities. Students completing the program may apply for the Child Development Assistant Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
