M2 PRESSWIRE-11 April 2001-Kansas State University: K-State distance education program earns honor (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University distance education program created to help Head Start teachers in Kansas earn bachelor's degrees and teaching certification in early childhood education has received an Exceptional Program Award from Region VIII of the Association for Continuing Higher Education. K-State's "Educating Head Start Teachers to Work With Children and Families in the 21st Century" program was launched in 1997 with a three-year grant, totaling $240,825, from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant was awarded to Mary DeLuccie, associate professor of family studies and human services and coordinator of the early childhood education program at K-State. "The program was created to help Head Start teachers, particularly in rural areas of the state, complete their bachelor's degree in early childhood education an! d be able to stay on the job while doing it," DeLuccie said. Head Start is a preschool program for at-risk children 3 to 5 years old who may be disabled or who come from low-income families. Currently, Head Start teachers must have a child development associate credential. Effective in 2004, the teachers will be required to have an associate's degree in early childhood education. Of the 30 students who entered the program in 1997 to complete their teaching degrees, 11 have graduated and 12 are still working toward theirdegree. More than 600 students enrolled in at least one course from 1997 to 2000. Delivery of the program was coordinated by K-State's Division of Continuing Education.

M2 PRESSWIRE-11 April 2001-Kansas State University: K-State distance education program earns honor (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University distance education program created to help Head Start teachers in Kansas earn bachelor's degrees and teaching certification in early childhood education has received an Exceptional Program Award from Region VIII of the Association for Continuing Higher Education. K-State's "Educating Head Start Teachers to Work With Children and Families in the 21st Century" program was launched in 1997 with a three-year grant, totaling $240,825, from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant was awarded to Mary DeLuccie, associate professor of family studies and human services and coordinator of the early childhood education program at K-State. "The program was created to help Head Start teachers, particularly in rural areas of the state, complete their bachelor's degree in early childhood educati! on and be able to stay on the job while doing it," DeLuccie said. Head Start is a preschool program for at-risk children 3 to 5 years old who may be disabled or who come from low-income families. Currently, Head Start teachers must have a child development associate credential. Effective in 2004, the teachers will be required to have an associate's degree in early childhood education. Of the 30 students who entered the program in 1997 to complete their teaching degrees, 11 have graduated and 12 are still working toward theirdegree. More than 600 students enrolled in at least one course from 1997 to 2000. Delivery of the program was coordinated by K-State's Division of Continuing Education. Students took classes through K-State's Telenet 2, an audio-video conferencing system available at several locations across the state. The program originally required students to earn 42 hours of credit from K-State, and complete another 83 credit hours at their local community! college to earn a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from K-State. "Head Start supervisors have been very positive about the impact of the program on their employees' performance," DeLuccie said. "Supervisors reported seeing positive changes in staff work behavior and interactions with children -- where it matters most. The supervisors also rated the program's curriculum as highly relevant to the needs of their staff and Head Start." Students also have given the program high marks. "Convenience was the most frequently cited reason for liking the distance learning experience," DeLuccie said. "According to our surveys, some students said the technology forced them to attend classes more actively and to take notes and to keep track of the conversation. Students also reported that access to instructors made the experience a more positive one." When the grant funding expired in 2000, K-State decided to continue the program as a self- supporting one th! rough the Division of Continuing Education. Enrollment in K-State's distance education program in early childhood education is open to Head Start teachers, as well as teachers and other employees of accredited school districts in the state. Students take 72 hours of general education and professional teacher education courses through distance education. Delivery methods include videotapes and Telenet 2. Additional course work is available during one-week summer seminars at K-State. Up to 62 credit hours may be completed at a local community college or other four-year institution and transferred, as approved, to meet K-State degree requirements. Students also must meet several requirement for admission to the program, including successful performance on national teacher examinations. In addition, some of the university classes offered in the early childhood distance education program can be taken for continuing education credits for credential re- certification! . DeLuccie credits a collaboration both within the university, with Kansas Head Start and with the Kansas Department of Education for the program's success. DeLuccie and David Stewart, assistant dean of continuing education, accepted the award for K- State at the Association of Continuing Higher Education Region VIII conference March 9 in Kansas City. More information on K-State's distance education program is available on the Web at http:// www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/as/earlychildhood/index.html The Association for Continuing Higher Education promotes lifelong learning and excellence in continuing higher education. Members includes colleges, universities and individuals from across the United States and in 11 foreign countries. Region VIII of the organization includes Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota, and the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan in Canada. CONTACT: DeLuccie Tel: +1 785 532 1475 ((M2 Com! munications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http:// www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).