"We know that people in tribal Head Start programs are very concerned about meeting the federal mandates," said Leah Woodke, director of UTTC Online and Distance Education. "It's difficult in rural areas to access higher education. They don't have programs readily available to train teachers even to the two-year level."

UTTC online courses in early childhood education are "learner centered," said Woodke.

According to Woodke, UTTC expects to make an announcement this summer regarding accreditation for the online delivery of every requirement for the two-year associate degree in early childhood education.

Classes would be helpful to teachers in tribal Head Start programs

Teachers and administrators who work in Head Start programs have a potential solution at their fingertips to one of the challenges they face from new federal legislation.

Meeting new certification requirements for Head Start teachers could be accomplished via the computer by taking required college classes online. The new opportunity could be especially useful in rural areas.

"This is something we've been working on for some time," said David M. Gipp, president of United Tribes Technical College. "The new federal legislation makes it that much more important."

Under the Bush administration, performance standards are being revised in a number of educational fields, including Head Start, the comprehensive child development program. Beginning this year Head Start classroom teachers are required to hold a two-year associate degree in early childhood education.

"The national requirement applies to all Head Start teachers," said Gipp. "Earning the advanced degree is especially challenging for teachers in tribal Head Start programs. These are usually on reservations in isolated locations, some distance from colleges that offer the required coursework. Our effort is to help them meet the challenge."

Head Start programs that employ classroom teachers without the appropriate degree could have their federal funding withheld, causing programs to be suspended.

Gipp characterized that as a "very serious potential problem" because Head Start is a bright spot in reservation communities, which are consistently among the most impoverished locations in the nation.

"We know that people in tribal Head Start programs are very concerned about meeting the federal mandates," said Leah Woodke, director of UTTC Online and Distance Education. "It's difficult in rural areas to access higher education. They don't have programs readily available to train teachers even to the two-year level."

Current language in the School Readiness Act of 2003, now being debated in Congress, will increase the requirement even further to a bachelor's degree by 2008.

UTTC online courses in early childhood education are "learner centered," said Woodke.

Courses are designed for working adults who cannot leave home or jobs to get an education. Online learning activities apply to current work situations, and assignments can be done from a computer in the home or at work. The UTTC online Web site is located at www.uttc.edu.

According to Woodke, UTTC expects to make an announcement this summer regarding accreditation for the online delivery of every requirement for the two-year associate degree in early childhood education.

Currently some classes are offered online. The classroom program is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities.