Early Childhood Education Program and Student Outcomes

At Eastern New Mexico University, our Early Childhood Programs are driven by our mission and CARES framework

• Cultivate growth and success in young children, families, and future educators,
• Advance education with developmentally appropriate, high-quality learning,
• Respect and celebrate diverse backgrounds and perspectives,
• Empower candidates and early childhood professionals through innovative teaching and mentorship,
• Strengthen community partnerships for lifelong learning.

The Early Childhood Programs at ENMU are guided by the mission and CARES framework. We believe that cultivating a strong educational foundation in young children facilitates lifelong success. Through a commitment to teaching excellence, advancing opportunities, respecting diversity, empowering professionals, and strengthening community partnerships, we prepare early childhood professionals to provide high-quality education and care to young children and families. 

Core Pillars Aligned with CARES 

Cultivate Growth and Success 

1. Utilize evidence-based practices and assessments to ensure high-quality education. 
2. Encourage active learning and hands-on experiences. 
3. Prepare candidates for successful careers in early childhood education. 
4. Develop early childhood professionals committed to ethical practice and equipped to support diverse learners. 

Advance Student Success 

1. Provide mentorship and individualized instruction to preservice educators and all ECED students. 
2. Connect candidates with enriching co-curricular activities for learning and professional growth. 

Respect All Children and Families 

1. Recognize and value varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. 
2. Prepare candidates to support and work with young children and families from diverse backgrounds through inclusive coursework and practicum experiences. 

Empower with Innovative Technology 

1. Integrate current and emerging technologies to enhance the learning experience. 
2. Equip candidates with digital tools for the evolving field of early childhood education. 

Strengthen Community Engagement 

1. Build strong partnerships with families, childcare programs, schools, organizations, and stakeholders to promote lifelong learning. 
2. Advocate for the needs and high-quality experiences of young children and their families with all stakeholders

Program Objectives

This program will provide students with the skills and knowledge to be responsible for meeting the specific needs of a group of children by nurturing the children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs; setting up and maintaining the early care and education environment; and establishing a liaison relationship between families and the program.

To promote Child Development and Learning in Context by:

1. Understanding the developmental period of early childhood from birth through age 8                              
2. Understanding and valuing each child as an individual                                                                                             
3. Understanding the ways that child development and the learning process occur in multiple contexts
4. Using this multidimensional knowledge to make evidence-based decisions to support each child.                                                                                        

To Build Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections by:       

1. Knowing about, understanding and valuing the diversity of families                                                                   
2. Collaborating as partners with families                                                                                           
3. Using community resources to support young children’s learning and development                                                                                  

To use Child Observation, Documentation and Assessment by:     

1. Understanding that assessments are conducted to make informed choices about instruction and for planning                
2. Knowing a wide range of types of assessments, their purposes, and their associated methods and tools                           
3. Using screening and assessment tools in ways that are ethically grounded and developmentally, ability, culturally, and linguistically appropriate                                                                                     
4. Building assessment partnerships with families and professional colleagues                                                                                  

To use Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices by:           

1. Understanding and demonstrating positive, caring and supportive relationships and interactions
2. Understanding and using teaching skills that are responsive to the learning trajectories of young children and to the needs of each child                                                                                 
3. Using a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant, anti-bias, evidence-based teaching skills and strategies                                                                                         

 To use Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum by:      

1. Understanding content knowledge and resources for the academic disciplines in an early childhood curriculum               
2. Understanding pedagogical content knowledge and how to use the teacher knowledge and practices described in Standards 1-4 to support young children’s learning in each content area                                
3. Modifying teaching practices by applying, expanding, integrating, and updating their content knowledge in the disciplines, their knowledge of curriculum content resources, and their pedagogical content knowledge                                                                                 

To use Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator by:

1. Identifying and involving themselves with the early childhood field                                                                   
2. Knowing about and upholding ethical and other professional guidelines                                                         
3. Using professional communication skills                                                                                         
4. Engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice                                                                       
5. Developing and sustaining the habit of reflective and intentional practice  

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with Early Childhood Education PreK-Grade 3 licensure

Outcome Measure #1: The Number of Program Completers

Outcome Measure #2: The Program Completion Rate

Outcome Measure #3: The fall-to-fall retention rate in the program for each of the three most recently completed academic years

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with Early Childhood Education Birth-PreK licensure

Outcome Measure #1: The Number of Program Completers

Outcome Measure #2: The Program Completion Rate

Outcome Measure #3: Institutional Selected Data 

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with Early Childhood Education Birth-PreK Non-licensure

Outcome Measure #1: The Number of Program Completers

Outcome Measure #2: The Program Completion Rate

Outcome Measure #3: Institutional Selected Data