Early Childhood Education Degrees in Maine
As Maine works to increase its population of young families and make the state more appealing to parents, education is a significant priority to legislators. With a strong education system, the state can pave the way for future growth and attract growing families to its cities and communities.
If you have ever wanted to start a career in teaching, you may get your start at one of the early childhood education schools in Maine.
Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Maine
Maine is home to many accredited colleges and universities that prepare you for teaching certification.
Get in touch with programs below and find out more about your training options.
One of the current goals of early education in Maine is equality. Research indicates that income gaps can be seen in academic achievement statistics in Maine (Press Herald, 2016). This difference is noted as early as kindergarten, indicating that the state must invest in preschool and pre-K programs to offset the negative effects of a low family income. State legislators have proposed a comprehensive early education system that would make pre-K available to students of all backgrounds (Press Herald, 2016). Experts believe that this early investment would pay off for current and future generations of children.
You have the chance to make a huge difference as a teacher.
Find out how you can seize this opportunity by contacting early childhood education programs in Maine.
Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Maine
Education is a highly regulated field in the United States, so you must meet federal and state expectations to become a licensed teacher. To get a license that allows you to teach ages birth through eight years, you need a Bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s programs combine general education, teaching coursework, and classroom experiences to prepare students for entry-level teaching jobs. After completing some general education classes and getting accepted to a teaching program, you enroll in a core set of classes that aspiring teachers of all levels must take. You then move on to classes that are unique to early education.
Early Childhood Education Courses
- Development and Care of Infants and Toddlers
- Social Science for Young Children
- Language Development and Emergent Literacy
- Development of Mathematical Concepts in Young Children
- Science Education for Young Children
- Administration of Early Childhood Programs
- Planning Environments for Young Children
- Theories of Learning and Curriculum Development
- Diverse Programming in Early Childhood Environments
Classroom experience is the foundation of teacher education. While you must have a strong grasp of theory and be able to discuss it with peers, it is even more important to know how to apply theory to a variety of classroom settings. By the time you graduate, you should have experience working with students from the full age range of early childhood.
All of this experience helps you grow and prepare for student teaching, which you complete during your final semester. For one semester, you are in the classroom full-time, working with students and eventually taking over full teaching responsibilities. This requirement ensures that you have the full set of skills needed to take your place in a classroom after graduation.
There are many types of financial aid to consider once you have been accepted to a teaching program. If you work in an underserved area after graduation, you may have the opportunity to have your loans forgiven. Federal aid is based on financial need, but many school-specific awards are based on academic success and potential.
This is the time to explore the field of early education and figure out where you fit in it.
Compare school options below and contact programs that interest you.
Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Maine
The final step to becoming an early childhood teacher is getting your teaching license. You must submit your paperwork, transcripts, and references to the Maine Department of Education. You can also register for the Praxis II exam. A passing score on this test allows you to become a fully licensed early education instructor.
Education is a fairly stable industry in Maine. Between 2014 and 2024, job openings for preschool teachers and elementary school teachers may not see significant change (O*Net, 2016). Salaries in Maine are on par with New England averages. The average income for a preschool teacher is $31,350 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
Elementary school teachers report an average salary of $50,870 per year (BLS, 2016).
The field of education changes on a consistent basis, thanks to new research and findings. It’s important for you to keep up with these changes in order to be an effective teaching professional. If you aren’t already involved in local teaching organizations, joining the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children can give you access to different teaching resources.
Are you ready to start working toward an early childhood education degree?
Use the list of programs to get in touch with Maine colleges and universities that fit your educational needs.
