Knowledge From the Field

A Matter of Degrees: Preparing Teachers for the Pre-K Classroom

Published: March 2010

Publisher(s): Pre-K Now

Author(s): Bueno, Marisa; Linda Darling-Hammond; Danielle Gonzales

Funder(s): Pew Charitable Trusts

Related Organization(s): Pew Center on the States

View Report (24 pages; 947KB; PDF)

A Matter of Degrees: Preparing Teachers for the Pre-K Classroom Pre-K Now

Area of Focus: Teacher Quality and Leadership

Abstract

This report discusses how pre-K teacher preparation affects student learning and program quality. It also looks at the challenges faced, strategies implemented, and costs incurred by states and localities who seek to raise preparation standards.

Key Findings and/or Recommendations

+Raising educational standards for pre-K teachers often has a positive, indirect effect on pre-K quality; more rigorous levels of teacher preparation has been shown to support both higher compensation and easier recruitment of well-qualified teachers.

+Several states have successfully instituted higher teacher-qualifications, including Wisconsin, New Jersey, California and Georgia, through creating credentialing policies, providing financial incentives for training, developing higher education infrastructures, and providing scholarships and other supports for adult students.

=Studies show that teachers with a bachelor’s degree and specialized training in early childhood education and development are better prepared to provide high-quality classroom environments and promote academic achievement.

- Several challenges exist for increasing teacher preparedness, including the overall lack of early childhood development courses in higher education, the cost and time to working teachers in obtaining a four-year degree, and the lack of sufficient training for those teaching English language learners and students with special needs.

Geographic Focus: National

Subjects/Keywords: Children and Youth; Children and Youth, Early Childhood; Education; Pre-kindergarten; Educational Standards; Teacher Preparedness

+ Successful strategy
= Observation
– Challenge