Because the criteria for child care center volunteers is determined by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Minimum Standards for Day Care Centers, there are special requirements for enrollment in child development courses with laboratory components, please refer to the Child Development Department’s Eligibility for Field Experiences / Lab Work Policy. Students enrolled in these courses will be required to complete a criminal history statement the first day of class and a notarized affidavit of this statement by the first day of lab, which will be submitted for verification of the information provided, as required by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Both of these forms are available for printing at www.austincc.edu/childdev.

Students with a felony conviction for any offense under Title 5, Title 6 or Chapter 43 of Title 9 of the Penal Code are not eligible to take child development courses with laboratory components or to work in child care settings. (These offenses are listed on the criminal conviction statement.)

Students with a misdemeanor or felony indictment, conviction or complaint, including any pending offenses, may not enroll in child development courses until eligibility has been determined by the Child Development Department Chair. Students with the above may be required to undertake a risk assessment with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and / or A.I.S.D three months prior to enrolling in child development courses. Contact the Child Development Department Chair at 223-5201 or the Director of the Children's Laboratory School at 223-5200, for more information.

Special Admission Requirements for the Academic CDA Training Program, Child Development Certificate and/or Associate Degree:

To encourage success in the Child Development Program, admission to the Child Development Certificate Program or the Academic CDA Training Program requires students to complete the Reading and Writing portions of the ACC Assessment for placement. Students who place into Fundamentals of Reading (DEVR 0303) or Fundamentals of Writing (DEVW 0403), on the basis of their assessment scores, must successfully complete these course requirements before enrolling in child development courses.

Students who place into Reading Skills I (DEVR 1303) and/or Writing Skills I (DEVW 1403), on the basis of their assessment scores must co-enroll in these courses while taking child development courses.

Other Special Requirements for Child Development:

• Students must receive a C or above in each child development course for the courses to be accepted toward the Child Development Certificate or Associate of Applied Science Degree.
• Prospective students who have a current PAC (Professional Administrator Credential) may receive credit for CDEC 2326. For information, contact the Child Development Department at 223-5201.
• Prospective students who have a current CDA (Child Development Credential) may have the course requirement for CDEC 1311 waived. For information, contact the Child Development Department at 223-5201.
• Students enrolled in CDEC 1166 or CDEC 2166 must complete 10 hours of regularly scheduled lab work; 5 hours of this must be completed at the ACC Children's Laboratory School.
• Students enrolled in CDEC 1166 or CEDC 2166 must obtain a negative TB test during the first two weeks of the semester to continue in these courses.