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Early Childhood Education Degrees in Connecticut

A child’s brain grows more in the first five years than in the rest of their life combined. That, plus many other critical research findings, have established the importance of early education in the United States. Historically, children with uninvolved parents, low family income, and other disadvantages have suffered from a serious achievement gap throughout their schooling.

Early education is one of the most effective ways to close the gap. As an early childhood teacher in Connecticut, you can further the goals of this field and make a difference in children’s lives.

Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Connecticut

Are you ready to devote your career to the improvement of education in Connecticut?

If you’re interested in fulfilling, meaningful work, learn more about earning an early childhood education degree by contacting Connecticut schools.

As you further your education and work toward licensure, you can enjoy the benefits of a strong professional support system. Connecticut officials are extremely dedicated to the advancement of early education, a fact that can help you get more out of your career.

The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood combines education with early childcare, access to food, and other resources that give young children a foundation for success.

Each year, the state of Connecticut chooses a legislator that has made a huge difference in the world of early childhood. The CT Early Childhood Alliance chose Senator Gayle Slossberg as the Children’s Champion of 2016 (Patch, 2016).

Whether you teach preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary school, you need a variety of important skills.

Find out how you can become a great teacher by contacting early childhood education programs in Connecticut.

Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Connecticut

Earning a degree is an excellent way to change the future of your early childhood education career and give yourself a variety of employment options.

While you may be able to work in a daycare or preschool without a Bachelor’s degree, an undergraduate degree is necessary to work in other areas of education and have your own classroom.

For that reason, most students choose to begin with a Bachelor’s degree and get experience in a variety of classrooms. To get a Bachelor’s degree, you need 120 credits, most of which come from early education coursework and practical experiences.

The courses listed below are offered at many Connecticut schools, and they explore some of the most commonly addressed topics in this field.

Early Childhood Education Classes

  • Educational Psychology
  • Guiding Children’s Development and Learning
  • Working with Families and Community Services
  • Language, Literacy, and Linguistic Diversity
  • Early Childhood Curriculum Development
  • Foundations of Literacy Learning
  • Early Childhood Integrated Curriculum
  • Development and Assessment of Infants and Toddlers
  • Assessment of the Whole Child

These courses tackle early childhood theory and teaching techniques. They also start to build these skills that you use in your classroom experiences. Since this license covers preschool through third grade, you need several student teaching experiences to be fully prepared.

Many schools assign students to locations as early as their first semester. Take advantage of your classroom experiences and learn from the teachers you shadow.

Funding is a barrier for many students, which is why many education associations and organizations award annual scholarships. Connecticut Charts-a-Course runs the Scholarship Assistance Program, which provides financial support to those who are studying early childhood education and development.

You may apply for your license through the Connecticut State Department Of Education. They require proof of your early childhood education degree and passing scores on the Pearson Foundations of Reading Test and the Pearson Early Childhood Test.

Finding the right training program can make a huge difference in your career.

Compare Connecticut early childhood education programs below and contact local schools.

Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Connecticut

After graduation, you may use your license to work in preschools, daycare centers, before school and after school programs, and elementary schools. The opportunities available to you depend on which part of Connecticut you live in and what type of experience you have from your degree.

In general, this field is stable. O*Net expects strong openings for preschool teachers to increase 4% by 2024 (2016). They report an anticipated 2% boost in elementary school teaching jobs by 2024 (O*Net, 2016).

Salaries in Connecticut reflect regional averages. Currently, preschool teachers bring in an average of $37,800 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). The average salary for an elementary school teacher is $75,700 per year (BLS, 2016).

With local resources and networking events, you can get acclimated to this field very quickly. The Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children is a popular resource for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school teachers.

With the list of early childhood education schools in Connecticut below, you can compare options and find degrees that fit you.

Contact schools today to start your journey.