Early Childhood Education Degrees in Washington, D.C.
Educational policy takes root in Washington DC, where legislators, teachers, and advocates lobby for what they feel is best for children. Because of this, Washington DC is the testing site for many of the federal changes made to education.
Teachers who work in this region have the exciting opportunity to advocate for their students and contribute to advances in their field. The need for early childhood experts is a significant issue in this area, since research indicates that equal access to early schooling can have a wide range of long-term benefits.
Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Washington DC
Since early education is essential to a child’s development, becoming a teacher is a great way to improve the lives of people in Washington.
Request information from early child education DC programs below.
There is a lot of research that looks at education in Washington DC, since the trends in this region often reflect national findings and patterns. As a result, legislators have put a good amount of money into Washington DC education to see what works and what doesn’t.
Early research in this specialty indicates that early education has improved test scores and information retention (Washington Post, 2016). However, research also shows that the region needs approximately $38 million more to fully explore the potential in this field. This may lead to increasing employment opportunities for educators.
Start learning how to become an early childhood teacher now.
Use the list of schools below to contact Washington DC colleges and universities.
Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Washington DC
There are several steps you have to follow to become an early childhood education teacher. First, you have to choose a college or university to attend.
You need to attend an accredited program to be eligible for licensure. An Associate’s degree allows you to become licensed as a teaching assistant, but you need a four-year Bachelor’s degree to be a licensed teacher. The average student can complete this degree in eight or nine semesters while attending classes full-time. Depending on which school you select, you may complete between 120 and 130 credits by the time you graduate.
D.C. Early Childhood Teacher Courses
- Foundations of Early Education
- Emergent Literacy
- Literature for Children
- Education of Exceptional Children and Youth
- Oral Language and Literacy in Early Learning
- Early Learning and Family, Culture, and Community
- Early Learning in Math and Science
Before starting your early education classes, you must take some general academic courses in physical sciences, mathematics, and writing. You have to apply to the school’s teaching program after earning a specified amount of credits and keeping your GPA above minimum requirements.
You can then begin your teaching courses and get experience in Washington DC classrooms. In total, plan on getting close to 1,000 hours of classroom experience.
In the Washington DC area, there are dozens of associations and government agencies that offer financial aid to teaching students. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood DC Scholarship pays for a percentage of your tuition fees, books, and living expenses.
If you want to work in the Washington DC area after graduation, you need to apply for licensure through District of Columbia Public Schools.
With an early childhood license, you can teach children from birth through age eight. You also have the chance to work in one of the most important industries in the United States and create a career you love.
Reach out to early childhood education schools near you, listed below.
Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Washington DC
In many states, you can join local organizations to broaden your knowledge of teaching skills and techniques. Washington DC organizations don’t just focus on local standards and schools; they unite the teaching industry throughout the country.
Becoming active in the National Association for the Education of Young Children can make you feel like part of the teaching community.
This area’s need for teachers may increase steadily for several years, with O*Net predicting a 9% increase in preschool teacher job openings through 2024 (2016). During this time frame, job openings for elementary school teachers may swell 5% (O*Net, 2016).
Currently, preschool teachers in Washington DC earn an average income of $40,280 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an average salary of $68,920 per year for elementary school teachers (2016).
Don’t put off your early childhood education degree. The sooner you start, the sooner you can begin changing classrooms across Washington DC.
Get in touch with local schools below.
