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Early Childhood Education Degrees in Louisiana

Education is the future of Louisiana, not to mention the rest of the country. With evidence-based teaching methods that are tailored to children’s specific developmental needs, teachers can help students reach their full potential and develop a natural love of learning.

Early childhood is one of the most crucial stages of development, since it is a period of substantial brain growth and learning. Starting a career in early childhood education can make a huge difference in the lives of Louisiana children.

Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Louisiana

Find out if early childhood education is a good fit for your future.

Get in touch with early childhood education programs to learn more.

Throughout Louisiana, there are many nonprofit and government projects that hope to reshape early education in this state. The Louisiana Department of Education recently received a massive grant to improve early childhood education (Shreveport Times, 2016). Their main area of focus is rural education, since students living in rural areas often have less access to diverse learning activities, cutting-edge teaching tools, and the support of larger districts.

By changing education at this level, experts believe that they may see benefits at all levels of education in Louisiana. Over time, these efforts may lead to substantial improvements in test results, college attendance rates, and income levels.

Are you ready to get started in early childhood education?

Louisiana schools are here to help you. Contact local programs below.

Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Louisiana

What are the benefits of earning an early education degree? Many teachers note that this is a calling, not just a career choice. If you’re ready to jump into this field and earn a Bachelor’s degree, you should be passionate about teaching and improving the lives of young children.

As you compare programs below, you may find that most teacher training programs in Louisiana are Bachelor’s-level programs. These programs provide a thorough introduction to the world of education while helping students develop their overall knowledge base.

To graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, you need at least 120 credits. Once you have been accepted to the teaching program in your chosen school, you may begin with core teaching pedagogy courses.

Commonly Offered Courses in Louisiana

  • Materials and Methods for Early Childhood Mathematics
  • Materials and Methods for Language Arts Instruction
  • Literacy Development for Young Learners
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Infant Development
  • Techniques for Observing and Assessing Young Children
  • Diverse Learners
  • Early Childhood Curriculum Organization and Framework
  • Classroom Management
  • Learning and Development

When you go to earn your license, you can become licensed to teach ages birth through eight years. You must be equally comfortable with students in all of these age ranges, which is why Louisiana schools give you the opportunity to work in a range of classrooms and learning settings.

You may complete rotations in preschools, day care centers, private schools, public elementary schools, and religious schools. As you work with students, you can figure out how to apply your knowledge to specific teaching challenges and solve problems that may arise in the classroom.

Your final semester of school should be dedicated to student teaching. While other teaching experiences only require a few hours of work per week, student teaching is extremely similar to a conventional teaching job. The references you get at this point of your education can help you start your career.

There are a variety of financial aid programs in place for aspiring early education teachers. One Louisiana-specific option is the Louisiana Pathways Scholarship.

Your journey to a teaching career could start right now.

With our list of Louisiana teaching programs below, you can compare schools and find the best option for you.

Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Louisiana

Before you can use your early childhood education degree and take on classroom duties, you must become licensed to teach in the state of Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Education requires a passing score on the Praxis II exam prior to licensure.

In the early stages of your career, it’s important to use others’ experience to your advantage. You may want to join the Louisiana Early Childhood Association or a similar group to network with teachers who have made a difference in Louisiana classrooms.

The job outlook is positive for early education professionals. By the year 2024, job openings for preschool teachers are expected to increase 10% in Louisiana (O*Net, 2016). At the same time, demand for elementary school teachers may swell 6% (O*Net, 2016). While preschool teachers claim an average salary of $37,240 per year, elementary school teachers earn an average of $48,430 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).

A lot depends on which school district you work for. If you’re willing to work in an underserved rural area, you may qualify for sign-on and retention bonuses, as well as loan repayment options.

Early childhood education programs can give you the strong start you need in the field of teaching.

Contact schools in your area to learn more about how you can get started.