Birth-Kindergarten Professionals
1. promote child development and learning for ALL young children with and without disabilities, including those at-risk.
2. understand assessment processes including their goals, benefits, and uses.
3. build family and community partnerships.
4. prepare for teaching and learning by connecting with ALL young children with and without disabilities including those at-risk and their families.
5. conduct appropriate, on-going formal and informal assessments.
6. prepare for teaching and learning by creating an integrated curriculum and responsive environment.
7. support the learning of ALL young children with and without disabilities, including those at-risk.
8. recognize and respect individual differences in program planning and implementation.
9. demonstrate respectful, reciprocal relationships with families and communities
10. function professionally.

Admission to Upper Division in Teacher Education
On-campus students may declare the BK major when they are freshmen; however, prior to enrolling in certain courses, students must be admitted to Upper Division in Teacher Education. Upper Division is the official step in applying and being formally admitted into a teacher education program. Students seeking undergraduate teacher education degrees or non-degree students seeking initial licensure in education must be admitted to the Upper Division of Teacher Education.

Admission to Upper Division includes completion of the following:

• a grade of "C" or better in the Early Experience course (must be taken at ECU).
• adequate scores on the PRAXIS I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST), reading, writing and math; or Computerized PPST (C-PPST) in reading, writing and math; or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT); or American College Testing (ACT). (For more information, see “Teacher Education Testing Options for Admission to Upper Division.”)
• a 2.5 or better grade point average on all work attempted at ECU.
• documentation of computer competencies requirement.
• a minimum grade of “C” on all courses required for the BK major.
• a satisfactory essay (250 words) outlining reasons for wishing to pursue a career in education.
• satisfactory interview with BK faculty members.

Internship
At the end of their program, BK majors complete a year long internship (student teaching) in a public school setting with a teacher who has completed the clinical teacher training program conducted by the Office of Teacher Education at ECU. A specially trained faculty member who holds a BK license serves as the intern’s University supervisor.

The teacher education handbook, Welcome to Teacher Education, contains forms and information about teacher education, upper division, and internship. The Teacher Education Handbook, Forms, and other information can be accessed online at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/teached/Index.cfm.

Licensure
Upon successful completion of all requirements for the program, BK majors are eligible to apply for a license to teach in the public schools of North Carolina. To be designated “highly qualified” to teach kindergarten, individuals holding a BK license must pass a PRAXIS II test. The approved test is The ETS PRAXIS Series Early Childhood: Content Knowledge (0022). This test is not required to obtain a BK license; it cannot be used to add BK to an existing license; and it cannot be used to become eligible for a BK license. It is only for individuals who already have a BK license and want to teach kindergarten. The PRAXIS II test is not required for BK license holders assigned to teach preschool or below.

All public schools and some private schools require their teachers to hold licenses issued by the state. If you plan to work in another state, your North Carolina license may be accepted in that state through reciprocity.

Admission to ECU
To pursue the BS in BK through either method of delivery (on campus or online), you must first be admitted to ECU. At the ECU home page www.ecu.edu, click on Future Students and find the topic Apply Online. If you do not yet have a bachelor's degree, click on Undergraduate Admissions. Follow the instructions for obtaining and submitting the application form, the nonrefundable $60 application fee, and official transcripts from all high schools, colleges, and universities attended.