ERIC Number: EJ1045212
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1524-5039
EISSN: N/A
Yes They Can: Supporting Bachelor Degree Attainment for Early Childhood Practitioners
Sakai, Laura; Kipnis, Fran; Whitebook, Marcy; Schaack, Diana
Early Childhood Research & Practice, v16 n1 Spr 2014
As part of a longitudinal study, the authors interviewed 73 nontraditional students regarding their perceptions of the challenges experienced and supports received as they returned to school to earn bachelor's degrees. All participants were working in the early care and education field. Interviewees perceived the cohort structure of their B.A. program as important to their academic success; this positive assessment increased over time and continued after graduation. A majority reported that program services such as financial assistance and the scheduling and location of classes were critically important throughout their participation in the degree programs. In contrast, academic and technological challenges reportedly decreased over time, and thus students' need for support such as tutoring, counseling services, and technology assistance decreased. Many students whose primary language was not English reported relying on English-language assistance throughout their school experience even when they perceived English academic work to be increasingly less challenging. These findings suggest that those who design and implement programs to assist degree attainment should invest in academic supports at the beginning of the program while other supports, including financial assistance, the schedule and location of classes, and the cohort itself, are critical throughout students' educational experience.
Descriptors: Longitudinal Studies, Interviews, Nontraditional Students, Student Attitudes, Barriers, Student Experience, Reentry Students, Bachelors Degrees, English Language Learners, Preschool Teachers, Student Personnel Services, Academic Support Services, Coding, Statistical Analysis, Early Childhood Education, Child Care, College Transfer Students, Minority Group Students, Caregiver Training, Student Financial Aid, Scheduling
Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 51 Gerty Drive, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 877-275-3227; Tel: 217-333-1386; Fax: 217-244-7732; e-mail: ecrp@uiuc.edu; Web site: http://ecrp.uiuc.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Preschool Education; Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A