Foundations of Early Childhood Education emphasizes the standards set forth by NAEYC for teacher preparation. It covers how these standards are reflected in the workplace. Students develop a résumé and create an electronic Professional Portfolio they can use for interview purposes. Adhering to the NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation for Associate Degree Programs and the NH ECE Professional Development System, the portfolio includes competency statements with supportive artifacts. Over the course of their ECE Associate Degree education, students build their portfolio with work from other ECE classes. The course also emphasizes the history of and current research in the field of Early Childhood Education, including NH Learning Standards, professional organizations, community resources, and support for families. Students explore the philosophies and theories of various program models and the way these models apply developmentally appropriate practices across a child’s range of development. Students discover the importance of reflective practice and begin to define their own personal ECE philosophies.