Education Department
Your Community, Your Classroom, Your Impact
Whether you are just starting your career in the classroom or preparing to lead systemic change, Highline College’s Education Department has a pathway for you. Our programs are uniquely designed for working professionals, with a curriculum focused on equity, inclusive practice, and trauma-informed leadership.
Early childhood education supports all areas of a child’s growth and learning – physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively – from birth through eight years of age. During this time, we learn skills and develop in ways that form foundations for the rest of our lives. Early childhood education (ECE) professionals’ partner with families, providing informed high-quality care that lays the groundwork for future success in school and life.
At the core of our program is our commitment to the elimination of inequities in our schools and broader community. Our curriculum reflects core values of justice, respect, humanity, reflection, inclusion, and professionalism. The ECE program at Highline offers coursework meeting state requirements to provide early care and learning in Washington. Classes are offered online, virtually, in the evenings, and on weekends with a flexible completion plan. You can start any quarter and faculty advisors are here to meet with you one-on-one and guide you in planning the program that best meets your needs. We offer courses in English, Somali, and Spanish.
Learn more
Are you interested in an amazing career where you make a difference every day? We work with the Early Achievers program and you may qualify for financial assistance. Check out what we have to offer!
Meet with an Advisor to learn more about Early Childhood Education!
Stackable Degrees
In Washington, Early Childhood Education professionals earn “stackable” certificates, leading to the associates degree (AAS), and then to bachelors, masters, or doctoral degrees. At Highline College the courses build on one another to deepen your levels of learning along the way.
We offer multiple Education Pathways to meet your career goals
Early Childhood Education: Build a strong, hands-on foundation in early learning (birth to age eight). Our certificates and degrees provide foundational skills and knowledge to meet WA state requirements and start your career. They build on each other to create a direct pathway into our BAS in ECE Leadership & Inclusive Practice.
Paraeducation: Paraeducators, also known as Educational Support Professionals (ESP), work alongside certificated teachers, supporting and assisting in the classroom.
Bachelor's of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education Leadership & Inclusive Practice: Step into a leadership role and become a champion for every child! Designed specifically for working educators, our BAS degree equips you to build truly inclusive programs and support children with diverse abilities and special needs. Move beyond foundational ECE to master high-demand skills in trauma-informed care, public policy advocacy, and pedagogical coaching.
Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Elementary Education: The Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Elementary Education is a path to Washington State teaching certification, preparing you for a career working with students from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Early Childhood Education, AAS
PUNSALA HETTIARACHIGE
Paraeducator, AAS & Elementary Education, BAS
KIANA NAKAYA
Elementary Education, BAS
SHAIMA SALEH
Our Conceptual Framework
is central to our program planning and decision making
Wrapping around our framework is the idea of cultural responsiveness. It is central to our program planning and decision making and continues to mature and adapt in response to community needs. Quality educators have clear, high expectations for all learners.
Our Mission, Vision and Core Values
We collaborate with our community to develop highly effective educators using coursework rooted in equity pedagogy, critical thinking, and research based learning and teaching strategies. We actively engage in the identification and elimination of inequities* in our schools and communities as a strategy to promote the health of children, families, and educators.
*By inequities, we mean unfairness or injustice related to group identities. This includes individual, cultural, or structural limits based on race, language, gender/gender identification, class, citizenship or veteran status, sexual orientation, age, ability, and religion.
We act as part of an inclusive community where all children, families, and educators are valued and respected and offered engaging opportunities to succeed.
- Justice – elimination of equity gaps; education that nurtures our community emotionally, intellectually, physically, and academically
- Respect – for each person’s unique worth, dignity, and culture
- Humanity – education promotes a fulfilling life, as well as future employment
- Reflection – the cyclical process of praxis (theory-action-reflection) as an essential teaching strategy
- Universal Design for Learning – classroom experiences that offer learners multiple ways to engage with the content and multiple ways to demonstrate what they know
- Professionalism – adherence to community, state, and national standards of professionalism, ethics, and best practices in teacher education
Degrees
Learn about the different Education degrees we offer, including short certificates, 2-year associate degrees, and our bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education Leadership and Inclusion.
Courses
Learn more about Education courses that are offered in multiple languages and modalities
Get in Touch
Education Department
- Department Directory
- Location: Building 29
- Email: educationdepartment@highline.edu
