The major goal of early childhood education programs is social competence.
Social competence can be defined as everyday effectiveness in meeting family, school and individual responsibilites. It can be divided into 5 measurable components; (1) physical health, (2) school achievement and progress, (3) social relations with peers, (4) psyhological and emotional development, and (5) family relations and development.
Eight Principles of Effective Programs
Principle 1: Target Children and Families who are at Highest Risk of School Difficulties
Principle 2: Begin Participation Early and Continue to Second or Third Grade
Principle 3: Provide Comprehensive Child-Development Services
Principle 4: Active and Multi-Faceted Parent Involvment
Principle 5: A Child-Centered, Structured Curriculum Approach
Principle 6: Small Class Sizes and Teacher-Child Ratios
Principle 7: Regular Staff Development and Inservice Training for Certified Teachers
Principle 8: Systematic Evaluation and Monitoring
Makaleskop 