With a new associate degree in early childhood education, the University of Delaware is helping working professionals advance their careers and deliver high-quality care

Excellent early care and education (ECE) often begins with great teachers. Yet, according to research by University of Delaware faculty, just over one-third of all ECE centers meet national benchmarks for teacher degrees, and even fewer can prioritize staff professional development.

With a new associate degree in early childhood education, University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is working to meet the demand for high-quality ECE teachers through a flexible, accessible and primarily online degree program designed for working professionals.

This degree offering also comes at a critical time for Delaware teachers. To raise the overall quality of early childcare in the state, the Delaware Department of Education will soon require ECE professionals to hold a certificate in child development or an associate degree.

ECE professionals in high-demand

According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2023 brief, employment in the childcare industry dropped by more than one-third during the first two years of the pandemic. Across the nation and within Delaware, many families still wait for months on early childcare waitlists, hoping that a coveted spot for their child will open up.

At CEHD’s Early Learning Center (ELC), co-directors Kelly Freel and Jessica Peace are excited about CEHD’s associate degree in early childhood education program. The program, they hope, will help encourage new professionals to enter the ECE field and help teachers deliver high-quality care in their current ECE centers.

“High-quality care is only possible with a great team,” Freel said. “The heart and soul of the ELC are the teachers who partner so intimately with families and young children.”

Leia Heckman, a pediatric speech, language and feeding therapist and an ELC parent, couldn’t agree more. All three of her children have attended the ELC, and she is grateful for the excellent care and education that they have received.

“Knowing that my kids are not only safe and cared for but also being educated is extremely important to me,” Heckman said. “It’s so important for our teachers to be educated. It’s one thing to keep a child safe, but it’s another thing to help them reach their developmental milestones and be kindergarten-ready. As a parent that works full time, I would not be able to do that.”