Education, Child Development & Family Services
The Education, Child Development, and Family Services sector provides students with the academic and technical preparation to pursue high-skill, high-demand careers in these related and growing industries. The sector encompasses four distinct, yet interrelated, career pathways: Child Development, Consumer Services, Education, and Family and Human Services. The Child Development pathway provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue careers in child care and related fields, and the Education pathway emphasizes the preparation of students to become teachers.
The Consumer Services pathway gives students the employment and management skills needed in careers that involve helping consumers. The Family and Human Services pathway provides students with skills needed for careers related to family and social services.
The standards are designed to integrate academic and career technical concepts. The anchor standards include Consumer and Family Studies comprehensive technical knowledge and skills that prepare students for learning in the pathways. The knowledge and skills are acquired within a sequential, standards-based pathway program that integrates hands-on projects, work-based instruction, and leadership development-for example, through FHA HERO, the California affiliate of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
Standards in the Education, Child Development, and Family Services sector are designed to prepare students for technical training, postsecondary education, and entry to a career.
Education, Child Development, & Family Services
Pathway Courses at RUSD
EDUCATION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY SERVICES CAREER PATHWAY
The Child Development Career pathway is designed to prepare students to pursue a career in the field of child care and development for infants, toddlers, and young children. Students study child growth and development, safety and emergency procedures, nutrition and health practices, positive interaction and guidance techniques, learning theories, and developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum activities. Students apply this knowledge in a variety of early childhood programs, such as child development laboratories, public and private preschools, family day care settings, and recreational facilities. Students completing the program may apply for the Child Development Assistant Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
• Life Management
Students will learn in this year long course: Consumer Education; Foods and Nutrition; Clothing and Textiles; Housing and Child Development/Interpersonal Relationships. Students will be exposed to career opportunities for each area. Coursework includes hands on projects.
Articulation with Mt. SAC (Course FCS 41)
This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• Child Development
Prerequisite: Life Management
Students learn about the importance of prenatal care essential for a healthy baby. Proper parenting techniques for the newborn infant and preschooler are emphasized. The care and understanding of developmental needs and characteristics of the whole child from prenatal through adolescence is covered. Special topics such as child abuse, latch key children, children of alcoholics and divorces are studied.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• Parent & Family Life
Prerequisite: Life Management
Students learn about the factors that affect the development of self, family and resources. This course of study covers interpersonal relationships from dating to marriage and family life. It also covers career options, money management and consumer resources, rights and responsibilities. The focus on family living begins with differences in family composition, preparation for future families, the significance and functions of family roles and responsibilities, coping with pressure and crisis in individual and family life. Students will have opportunities to develop problem solving skills, prioritizing skills, goal selection and decision-making skills, comparative shopping skills and evaluation of choices and apply those to home and work life.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
• Senior Seminar – Family/Consumer Science
Prerequisite: Completion of the Education & Child Development core courses culminating in a “B” average and completion of Pathway area of concentration courses culminating in a yearly “B” average in each class.
Senior Seminar is a one-year course offered to senior students who are completing the Career Certification Program in the Education & Child Development Career Pathway. This course includes a 36-hour internship, which provides students with a supervised practical workplace experience. Students complete an extensive research project, which is presented both orally and in writing. Students also develop a portfolio, which will help them organize and present a collection of their work for the purpose of assessment as well as for presentation to prospective employers. They also enhance their employment skills by participating in an interview with a panel of judges. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive a certificate of completion.
This course meets the University of California/California State University “g” (College Preparatory Elective) entrance requirements.
For more career information, visit the
California Career Zone Website
Education, Child Development, and Family Services Industry Sector
 Career Technical Service Organization for Education, Child Development & Family Services |