After students receive an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) Degree in Early Childhood Education, they can continue to work toward a four-year degree. For example, the Evergreen State College honors all our credits in an "upside down" degree. Their "upside-down" BA program treats our transfer credits as a major. You then take your general education work there and efficiently earn a BA in Human Development. To get a teaching certificate you would continue into their Masters in Teaching Program. Fast. Efficient.

If students want to stay in Seattle, call Pacific Oaks College. They recommend adding another two quarters of general education classes at the community college before transferring into their BA and MA education programs in Human Development. Many of our faculty have degrees from Pacific Oaks. Most students choose this option.

The other University that holds promise for efficient transfer is Washington State University in Pullman, Washington 99164-2010. Their Human Development Program prepares people to meet the needs of families and children. They have a preschool specialization degree that prepares graduates for administration, personnel training, and childhood services. We will soon have a 2+2 agreement with them allowing our AAS degree to transfer fully towards a Human Development BA there, most of which can be earned through distance learning.

The salary range for graduates is $9.00 to $13.00 per hour with benefits. Several of our graduates quickly become directors and receive increases for that, too. However, in our State of Washington licensing requires 20 hours of training (Washington STARS program) for all preschool and child care teachers. Additionally to meet licensing requirements, someone in a licensed child care facility should have 45 credits of Early Childhood Education courses. Most child care workers have no college at all. As a result, many of our students take a few courses here as they work it child care centers.

Those that start right out of high school readily find employment without even completing the degree. Increasingly centers are requiring an AAS Degree for teachers. They are really in short supply. Head Start has set a goal for half of its teachers nationwide to have AAS Degrees by the year 2002. The degree increases salary and gives a teacher a wide choice of schools to work in. You are more likely to find a school that fits your philosophy.