Experiential Learning

Making It Matter in Early Childhood Preparation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33043/fxjrvwaftss

Keywords:

early intervention, early childhood special education, field experience, educator preparation programs, Professional preparation standards

Abstract

In recent years, the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has put forth recommendations for the field through the development of the Position Statement on Ethical Practice and Personnel Standards in Early Childhood Special Education. Additionally, principles outlined in the Early Childhood Education/Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (ECE/EI/ECSE) Crosswalk and the DEC promote supervised, community-based learning across varied environments and the birth-to-age-8 continuum. This article, which includes four figures, provides support to faculty in developing experiential learning opportunities (ELOs) within their programs of study for EI, ECE, and/or ECSE preservice professionals.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Laura McCorkle, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Laura McCorkle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special  Education and Child Development at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and serves as the Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate Coordinator. She teaches undergraduate and graduate  preparation courses, and her research interests include personnel preparation, mentorship, using technology to support pre-service candidates, and early intervention/early childhood special  education.

Sheena Jennings, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Sheena Jennings is a doctoral student and graduate assistant in special education and child development at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As an adjunct faculty member, she has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in child and family development and special education. Her research interests focus on supporting young children with complex needs and their families, family-centered practices, personnel preparation, effective transitions from Part C to Part B, and transdisciplinary teaming in EI/ECSE

Dana Childress, Old Dominion University

Dana Childress is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Early Childhood Special Education at Old Dominion University. She teaches graduate courses and her interests include adult learning and early intervention (EI) service delivery, family centered practices, elevating the identity and practices of EI educators and service coordinators, and professional development    

Downloads

Published

02/16/2026

How to Cite

McCorkle, L., Sheena Jennings, & Dana Childress. (2026). Experiential Learning: Making It Matter in Early Childhood Preparation. Journal of Special Education Preparation. https://doi.org/10.33043/fxjrvwaftss

Issue

Advanced Online Publications

Section

Open Submission

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Laura McCorkle, Sheena Jennings, Dana Childress

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.