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Early Childhood Education Degrees in Kentucky

Beginning a teaching career is a surefire way to give back to your community, devote your daily work to a meaningful cause, and make a difference in the lives of the people you serve. Early education is an absolutely essential part of childhood development, since achievement gaps can be seen in children as young as four and five.

As an early education teacher, you can ensure that children of all income levels and backgrounds get access to the education they deserve and the skills they need for a successful future.

Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Kentucky

Are you curious about what it takes to become licensed in this specialty?

Find out how you can become an early childhood teacher by contacting Kentucky programs today.

Kentucky, like many states across the country, has initiated an early education overhaul in response to a growing body of research verifying this field’s importance. One of the biggest ways in which this change is seen is funding.

Three Kentucky districts are expanding their preschool programs with the help of $450,000 in grants (WKYU FM, 2016). They hope to make programming more practical and affordable for at-risk children. This is part of Kentucky’s goal to close the achievement gap, which can already be measured by the time children reach kindergarten (Insider Louisiville, 2016).

Early childhood educators have a ripple effect on children’s lives, setting in place habits and beliefs that can help children reach their full potential.

Reach out to early childhood education schools to take the first step in a new career.

Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Kentucky

As you start to get in contact with teacher training programs in Kentucky, you may find that there are many similarities across programs. The field of education is highly regulated, so all training programs have to meet the same rigorous set of standards before they are approved.

A Master’s degree program is only an option if you already have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. This isn’t the case for most aspiring teachers, so look for Bachelor’s degree programs in early childhood education. To graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, you must earn no fewer than 120 credits. Depending on the school you choose, this works out to four or five years of study.

After completing a core set of general education classes that are required for all undergraduate students, you may take a knowledge test and apply for acceptance to the teaching program. From there, you dig into teaching standards and pedagogy while gaining experience in early childhood classrooms.

Coursework Options in Kentucky

  • Teaching Language Arts in the Early Grades
  • Teaching of Reading
  • Instructional Technology
  • Teaching Elementary School Mathematics
  • Teaching Elementary School Science
  • Teaching Social Studies in the Early Grades
  • Educational Assessment
  • Art for Elementary Education
  • Health Education for Elementary Teachers

While working through your curriculum, you should discover ways to teach a variety of challenging and exciting topics to young children. These teaching techniques should incorporate your knowledge of early childhood development, teaching standards, and current research.

Most schools require several rotations at local elementary schools, daycares, and preschools, giving you the chance to practice new skills and techniques as you learn them. By the time you reach your final year, you should have a fairly clear idea of which grade you would most like to teach after graduation.

This can help you choose a student teaching site and start networking with potential employers. Your final semester is dedicated to student teaching, a commitment that involves at least 40 hours of work per week.

The need for early education teachers is high, a fact that may give you access to a variety of scholarships and grant programs. Consider state-funded options, like scholarships awarded by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.

The difference you can make as an early childhood teacher is astounding. Children’s brains grow rapidly in the first five years of life at a rate that exceeds any other point in their lives. By helping kids learn and develop strong habits early, you can set them on a path for lifelong success.

Early childhood education courses give you the chance to develop necessary classroom skills.

Get more information on course requirements by requesting information from Kentucky programs below.

Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Kentucky

As a new educator, you definitely want to take advantage of the professional resources that are available to you. Look into joining the Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education. This organization has branches all over the country, and it has a strong reputation among early childhood educators.

When you begin your job search, you may benefit from a strong job outlook in Kentucky. By 2024, job openings for preschool teachers are expected to increase 14% in Kentucky (O*Net, 2016). At the same time, demand for elementary school teachers may increase 19% (O*Net, 2016).

Your salary may be determined by which grade level you teach and which district you work in. The average salary for a Kentucky preschool teacher is $37,930 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Elementary school teachers claim an average income of $51,920 per year (BLS, 2016).

Throughout this process, ensure that you meet the standards and requirements of the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. They require a passing score on the Principles of Learning and Teaching Praxis II exam.

There is no better time than right now to find a career that you enjoy.

Discover how to earn an early childhood education degree by getting in touch with Kentucky teaching programs now.