Curriculum Alignment Project (CAP)

What is CAP?

The California Community Colleges Curriculum Alignment Project has engaged faculty from across the state to develop a lower-division program of study supporting early care and education teacher preparation. The Lower Division 8 represents evidence-based courses that are intended to become a foundational core for all early care and education professionals.

CAP Lower Division 8 Courses

• Child Growth and Development
• Child, Family and Community
• Introduction to Curriculum
• Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children
• Observation and Assessment
• Health, Safety and Nutrition
• Teaching in a Diverse Society
• Practicum

To view specific course information, click on the course title above.
To view a course number at an aligned college, go to the box on left titled, "Courses at Aligned Colleges"

Latest Developments with CAP

Things you should know: As of January 12, 2012,

• 103 Community Colleges in California have agreed to participate in CAP.
• Welcome to our newest college: Antelope Valley College.
• Of these colleges, 37 are officially aligned, and 9 are provisionally aligned pending official documents, 14 others are in the revision process to align their course.
• The CA Early Learning Quality Improvement System (CAEL QIS) is recommending the CAP Lower Division 8 courses be required for the 24 ECE units of education.

The CAP Lower Division 8 courses have been accepted as the required coursework for the newly approved Early Childhood Education Transfer Degree.