Course Policies Required to be Included in Your Course Syllabusby ACC and the Child Development Department
The syllabus is your contract with students. It outlines the required components of the course and what is expected of students. Your syllabus governs how students will earn credit for your course. The master syllabi for Child Development courses provide a good starting point for your syllabus.
See the Syllabus checklist on the faculty page for Child Development for all required elements of a syllabus.
The policies listed below are required to be a part of your syllabus, either by ACC policy or Child Development Department policy. Some of the policies should be included as written and some allow instructor flexibility, but are required components of the syllabus. Suggested language will be identified and examples are given for each policy. Instructors should determine their course policies within this framework.
Field Work Policies Required by the Department
Criminal History Statement:
Required Language: Because of the criteria for child care center volunteers determined by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDPFS) Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Care Centers, there are special requirements for enrollment in child development courses with laboratory components. These special requirements are discussed in the ACC Catalog. Students will be required to complete a criminal history statement and affidavit on the first day of class, which will be submitted for verification of the information provided. Failure to accurately report the information required by Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Care Centers will result in withdrawal from the course and possible withdrawal from the Austin Community College District.
Fieldwork Placement and Lab Hours:
Required Language: This course has (insert the total number of hours required for the semester) required hours of field experiences. Field/lab experiences sites and times are arranged in class with the course instructor. Students must complete all of the required lab hours to successfully complete the course.
Note: The instructor established his or her field assignments to meet the course objectives.
Required Language:Students enrolled in child development courses must be eligible for field experiences as determined by the Child Development Department’s Eligibility for Field Experiences Policy. The Child Development Department’s policy reflects the standards established by both:
- The Texas Department of Protective and Family Services (TDFPS) as described in the ACC Catalog and on the “Austin Community College Children’s Lab school Criminal Conviction Statement for Child Development Students,” and
- Criteria set by the Austin Independent School District for volunteer eligibility, which prohibits anyone with a felony within the last five years for offenses involving moral turpitude (acts that are generally considered morally or ethically wrong, including crimes that involve dishonesty, fraud, deceit, theft, or misrepresentation) or offenses involving drugs and/or alcohol that are not considered ineligible for participation in field experiences/lab work in a child care center under TDPFS.
To continue in child development coursework in which the student is currently enrolled, he or she must be eligible to participate in field experiences/lab work under these criteria.
Students who are determined to be ineligible for field experiences under TDPFS criteria will need to work with the Child Development Department Chair, the Lab School Director and TDPFS to complete a risk evaluation. This typically takes a few months to complete, so students should begin this process the semester before taking a child development course.
Students who are ineligible for field experiences due to current, prior or pending felony charges within the last five years that are offense of moral turpitude must obtain department approval prior to enrollment in child development courses. The student will meet with the Child Development Department Chair and Lab School Director to discuss the student’s situation. Factors such as the nature of the offense and pattern of offenses will be reviewed. If a student who is ineligible for field experiences/lab work under offenses of moral turpitude applies for department approval after enrollment in courses, he or she may be asked to withdraw from their child development courses.
If any criminal record with a felony, including a pending felony charge, is returned as a result of a criminal background check, the student will be withdrawn from child development courses requiring laboratory experiences in a child care setting. A student who willfully misrepresents the information on these forms will be withdrawn from all child development courses requiring laboratory experiences in a child care setting and may be subject to ACC student disciplinary policy as outlined at
To successfully complete the lab portion of this course, you are expected to:
- Demonstrate the behaviors required in Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Care Centers and noted on the Child Development Department Lab and Fieldwork Agreement and Confidentiality Statement.
- Follow the policies of your lab placement site
- Complete the required number of field hours for this course.
Professional Ethics
Required Statement: The children and families encountered while completing laboratory experiences for this course deserve respect at all times. Talking or gossiping about children, families or center staff is not respectful and undermines the trust of the children and families in their child care providers. It is expected that you review and abide by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethics. The NAEYC Code of Ethics may be viewed online at
Course Evaluation and Grading
Note: Each instructor determines the course evaluation and grading system. Instructors teaching a course with a key assessment required for the Department’s Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation will be required to include that assessment in the course evaluation and grading system. The current courses include CDEC/TECA 1303, CDEC 1413, CDEC 1392, CDEC 2424, CDEC 1393 and CDEC 2166.
NAEYC Standards and Program Student Learning Outcomes
Required language:
Child Development Program Level Student Learning OutcomesSTANDARD 1: The student will apply an understanding of child development and learning.
STANDARD 2: The student will explain how to build family and community relationships.
STANDARD 3: The student will demonstrate how to observe, document and assess in order to support young children and families.
STANDARD 4: The student will demonstrate skills in teaching and analyze young children’s learning.
STANDARD 5: The student will demonstrate skills of a professional.
NAEYC Standards and Program Level Outcome:
All coursework in ACC’s Child Development Department include student learning opportunities and outcomes that address the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation in Associate Degree Programs. The Standards intentionally cover areas of professional preparation that are required to be sure that all young children will receive the kind of early education they need and deserve. TheNAEYC Standards are listed below.
STANDARD 1: Promoting Child Development And Learning
1a: Knowing and understanding young children’s characteristics and needs
1b: Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on development and learning
1c: Using developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments
STANDARD 2: Building Family And Community Relationships
2a: Knowing about and understanding family and community characteristics
2b: Supporting and empowering families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships
2c: Involving families and communities in their children’s development and learning
STANDARD 3: Observing, Documenting, And Assessing To Support Young Children And Families
3a: Understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment
3b: Knowing about and using observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools
3c: Understanding and practicing responsible assessment
STANDARD 4: Teaching And Learning
4a: Knowing, understanding, and using positive relationships and supportive interactions
4b: Knowing, understanding, and using effective approaches, strategies, and tools for early education
4c: Knowing and understanding the importance, central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines
4d: Using own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum to promote positive outcomes
STANDARD 5: Becoming a Professional
5a: Identifying and involving oneself with the early childhood field
5b: Knowing about and upholding ethical standards and other professional guidelines
5c: Engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice
5d: Integrating knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on early education
5e: Engaging in informed advocacy for children and the profession.
Although each Child Development course may cover many of these Standards, each course concentrates on specific Standards. COURSE concentrates through the student learning objectives described below on the Standards XXXXXXX (Add Standards from the Chart NAEYC Standards Emphasized in Courses).
Course Objectives
Required: List the course objectives as noted in the master syllabus for the course. You may add additional course objectives, but must include, at a minimum, those objectives listed in the master syllabus.
Scan Competencies
Required: List the SCAN competencies as noted in the master syllabus for the course.
Policies Required by the College
Attendance/Class Participation
Suggested language: “Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance is expected of all students. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.”
Note: Each instructor will establish an attendance and class participation policy. Faculty teaching in an online or hybrid format should also set attendance/participation policies.
Students must adhere to the policies as stated in each individual course syllabi.
Example Policy:Regular attendance is necessary to successfully complete this course. Many of the learning objectives for this class are covered only in the class discussions. You are expected to come prepared by completing all assigned reading and being ready to discuss the material. You will receive a total of 25 points for attending class and actively participating in discussions, small group work, other in-class activities, and assigned homework. After your first absence, 3 points will be deducted from the 25 for each class absence. Arriving on time and remaining the whole class session are also important to a group working well together. If you arrive late (15 minutes past start time) more than 1 time, 2 points will be deducted from the 25 for each subsequent late arrival or early departure.
Withdrawal Policy
Suggested language: “It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary(Optional, but encouraged) If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.
Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002 may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course. State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.”
Note: Each instructor may determine if they will withdraw students or if it will be the students’ responsibility.
Example: [Text in quotes above and the following statement with specific requirements for this class]
Students may withdraw any time prior to the “last day to withdraw”, Monday, April 22, 2013. You may be withdrawn by me if:
- You miss more than 3 course meetings
- You do not submit by Tuesday, April 16th, all assignments due by that date for grading.
Missed or Late Work
Note: Syllabus needs to include the professor’s policy regarding late or missed work. The professor can determine this policy.
Example: The due dates have been established for your benefit as a learner and my benefit as a teacher. Each assignment has a specific due date. Please adhere to the established timelines. You can earn up to 5 points for work submitted on time. Please contact me if there are extenuating circumstances that I should take into account. All work must be submitted by May 7 to be graded.
Incompletes
Note: You must set a policy for incompletes. You may determine the parameters for an incomplete or can determine that you will not offer incompletes. An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.
Example: If you need to take an incomplete in this course, please contact the professor. To be eligible for an incomplete, you must have completed 50% of your course assignments with a C average or above.
Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty
Suggested Language:A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution. Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Suggested Language: Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.
Statement on Students with Disabilities
Suggested language:Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.
Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.
Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.
Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at
Safety Statement
Suggested Language:Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at