Peoria, IL – August 26, 2014 – Bradley University is among a select group of institutions in Illinois to be entitled for the Gateways to Opportunity Credentials. Gateways to Opportunity, a professional development support system in Illinois, is designed to provide guidance, support and recognition to practitioners who serve children and families in the state.
Bradley has aligned its curriculum with the Gateways to Opportunity program to further prepare graduates to provide quality care and education to young children. It has received Early Childhood Education level 5 and Infant/Toddler level 5 preparation status, meaning Bradley students will have the opportunity to qualify for professional development credentials as they take courses or complete a degree through the Department of Teacher Education.
According to Cecile Arquette, Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education, receiving the status of Entitled Institution under the Gateways to Opportunity program gives Bradley’s Early Childhood (ECE) teacher candidates enhanced professional status in the eyes of employers. “Not only do our ECE graduates receive their teaching credential through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Gateways organization has given our ECE program approval as being one that goes far beyond minimum requirements. More and more employers of ECE teachers want to see that they are coming from an institution that has this level of distinction, so you can see how this will be an asset for our ECE graduates.”
Bradley is a top-ranked private, independent university in Peoria, Illinois, offering 5,700 students the choice of more than 100 academic programs. Bradley links academic excellence, experiential learning and leadership development with an entrepreneurial spirit for a world-class education. Its size provides students with extensive resources not available at most private colleges and the personal attention not commonly found at large universities.