Classroom to Capitol: Experiential Learning & Early Childhood Policy
UF graduate students aren’t just studying early childhood policy—they’re traveling to the Florida Capitol to engage directly with state leaders.
The University of Florida’s Early Childhood Policy Institute (ECPI) in Tallahassee creates an opportunity for graduate students from across different education programs at the University of Florida to meet with leaders about early childhood policy. UF is part of a national network of higher education institutions from around the country developing the field. The ECPI experiential learning program led by professors who make up the Early Childhood Policy Centers Collaborative. Together, this group creates new opportunities for students who want to work in this growing field.
Gaining Experience in Early Childhood Policy
In Tallahassee, institute participants were able to meet with policymakers, non-profit leaders and other professionals in the early childhood policy field. Leaders they met included a state representative, the Chancellor of the Division of Early Learning from the Florida Department of Education and the CEO of the Children’s Forum. They also met representatives from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the president-elect of the Florida Association for the Education of Young Children. The participants connected their theoretical work from the classroom to see how professionals apply skills in their day-to-day practice.
For Savannah Butler, collaboration based on different perspectives was one of the most beneficial parts of this experience. These interactions showed the importance of the collaboration needed to make a positive change in early childhood education. It also exposed her to new concepts she hadn’t previously considered, helping her expand her knowledge in early childhood policy.
While at the Florida Capitol, Butler heard professionals using terms that they had been taught in the classroom. This added to her positive experience, and helped “reaffirm that the education I’m receiving in my master’s program matters and that these concepts don’t exist in a vacuum.”
UF’s Ongoing Commitment to Experiential Learning
Experiential learning takes students outside of the classroom and gives them the ability to gain real-world experience. Through the institute, students transform classroom theories of early childhood policy into real-world action by engaging directly with stakeholders at the state capitol. F. Chris Curran, Ph.D., an organizer for this institute, says that this opportunity “opens avenues for our students to envision new career opportunities and pathways to improve early childhood education.”
For many of the participants, the institute is their first time visiting the Florida Capitol. As a professor, Curran knows this experience makes a difference for students wanting to become involved in early childhood policy. This exposure helps students realize “that they could be a part of the conversations and policies that are shaping how young children learn.” In its second year, the institute has grown to two dozen students. This experience is invaluable to students wanting to go into early childhood policy. Butler hopes to return next year, and she “could not recommend this experience enough!” If your goal is to work in this field, find out how you can get involved with the Early Childhood Policy Centers Collaborative or earn an online graduate certificate in early childhood studies.
