The Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development was established in 1985 through a competitive Centers of Excellence program sponsored by the Tennessee General Assembly and then Governor Lamar Alexander. The Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at ETSU has a mission of providing : a) service to the university, community and region including model programs, high-quality instruction, and service activities regarding exemplary approaches for serving typically- and atypically-developing children from birth to the age of eight, b) training and professional development for teachers and specialists in the region, parents/families with young children, and ETSU students pursing academic and professional degrees related to the broad field of early childhood, and c) research and scholarly opportunities for ETSU faculty and students interested in early childhood. Since its inception, the Center has brought in more than $40,000,000 dollars of external funding. Sources of external funding have consistently been service contacts with the US Department of Education, Tennessee Department of Education, the Department of Human Services and other state agencies devoted to serving children and families and children.
The faculty and staff of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development value:
- integrity in how we live and work
- all people and their quality of life
- advocacy and voices of influence
- research, and innovation for the improvements they bring
- community and the power of its impact
- professionals who touch the lives of children and their families
- early childhood professionals and the role we play in the dissemination of knowledge and skills
