Requirements for ECE Teacher Certification in Kansas
The state of Kansas is an agricultural state and has, for the most part, ranked poorly in its public education. Based on some rankings it places around 37th in the country. Even so, it ranks much higher in categories such as children's well-being. The state has been working very hard over the last several years to improve its overall standing with public education.
Kansas Steps to Follow for Teachers
As in every state in the country, there are certain minimum requirements you must obtain in order to qualify as a preschool teacher in Kansas. If you are a high school student considering this as a career path, then you should speak with a counselor to see what classes you may want to take in your junior and senior years to best prepare for college in this area of study. You might also look for opportunities to work as a teacher's assistant, as this will help you greatly as you pursue this career.
Step 1. Get Your Degree and Complete an Educator Prep Program
As in most states in the US, the Kansas Department of Education requires public-school teachers to have at least a four-year bachelor's degree. This includes preschool teachers. Your degree should be in early childhood education. It should include general requirements as well as your professional studies. Some examples of these would include language development, assessment of young children, human development, behavior management, and exceptional development in early childhood. You will also need a teaching practicum to be included in your degree.
Additionally, it will also be necessary to complete a state-approved educator preparation program. Approved education degree programs in the state will include the teacher preparation program, so that you will be ready to apply for licensure as soon as you graduate. It is possible for a teacher coming from out-of-state, who has passed an educator preparation program approved in the state they came from, to have those credentials accepted in Kansas.
It will also be necessary to meet other specific requirements. If you have not just graduated from an approved program, you will need at least eight hours of education coursework or a full year of teaching experience within the last 6 years when you apply for licensure. The two different types of licensure you can apply for include birth-kindergarten and birth-third grade.
The state requires that you complete and pass training for dealing with blood-borne pathogens and that you receive a certificate. You'll be giving a TB skin test before you begin teaching. It will also be necessary for you to submit to a criminal background check and go through an approval process with the educator preparation program and the school you apply to teach at.
The teaching practicum will often be two semesters and will be in a classroom that is age-appropriate for your degree. Some of the activities you will perform during this training include assisting the teacher, preparing lesson plans, and you may even be given the responsibility of taking over the classroom. The senior teacher will mentor you. They will also monitor and evaluate your overall performance.
Step 2. Pass the Teacher Certification Exams
Very similar to other states, Kansas has a number of tests that preschool teacher candidates must pass to demonstrate their preparedness to be an effective teacher in the state. Kansas uses the PRAXIS exams, which include pedagogy and content assessments. The Kansas educational testing service delivers these assessments. They test your level of basic skills that you have learned in your educator preparation program.
When taking the pedagogy assessment, you will be required to get a score of 160 or better. The test for education of young children will require a score of 160 or better as well. These tests are offered in a number of locations throughout Kansas. Please check the ETS website for where their facilities are found in Kansas.
Step 3. Apply for Your Teaching License in Kansas
Once you have successfully finished your degree and taken all of your required exams, you will be eligible to apply for your teacher's license in Kansas. Presuming you went through an educator preparation program in the state, it is from your college or university that you will obtain this application. A licensure officer will be able to assist you with the process. They will work with you to begin the process. Both the application process and the payment of fees can be completed online.
Those who have completed an educator preparation program in another state will be required to do an initial out-of-state application. A fingerprint card will also be necessary. Any teacher who received their credentials from another country will use an out-of-country application and a fingerprint card. Generally speaking, the majority of information and documents can be submitted online.
Step 4. Maintain and Upgrade Your License
The initial license you receive will be good for two years. During those two years you will need to enter and complete the induction and mentoring program for the state at the school you're teaching at. You will need to have the completion of your induction/mentoring program verified by the administrator of your school in order for you to be able to upgrade your license to a professional license.
A professional license must be renewed every five years. During these five years the state requires you to receive continuing education, which is what will allow you to renew your teaching license. Those with a four-year undergraduate degree will need to complete 160 PDP (Professional Development Points). These will be taken within an individual professional development plan and must be by an approved local development council. A minimum of 80 PDP's has to come from college courses. The school district you work in will help you develop your plan. Those with a graduate degree will need 120 PDP.
Popular Career Choices
Preschool Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Elementary School Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Kansas Is Collaborating with Other Organizations to Improve Education
The state already ranks well in the category of childhood well-being. Because the state recognizes the importance of early childhood education it is now collaborating with organizations that specialize in this area. Some of the organizations include the Kansas Preschool Program and the Foundations for School Success.
Numerous studies across the nation have demonstrated that students that enter pre-kindergarten programs consistently do better throughout their school years than those who did not attend those programs. This has led most states to implement these to a greater degree and this includes Kansas. For this reason, the state is seeking passionate educators to play a major role in this pursuit.
Accredited Kansas Programs
All of the requirements listed above are for those who plan on working in the public-school system. Those who plan on working in other venues, such as child care facilities will be regulated by the Department of Health and Environment for the state of Kansas.
Group Day Care –
To work in one of these facilities the state requires you to be at least 18 years old. It will also be necessary to be certified in first aid and CPR and have some childcare training. Anyone wanting to work in a group daycare will need to submit to a KBI criminal history as well as a background check for child neglect and child abuse.
Licensed Day Care –
To work in a licensed daycare the state requires that you are a minimum of 18 years old. It is also necessary to have training in CPR and first aid, along with childcare training. You will need to submit to a criminal history as well as a background check to make sure you've never been charged with child neglect or child abuse.
Preschools –
This type of facility will have a program director that has met the state required qualifications and this director must be on staff full-time. The director will have to meet all of the background checks and training and the staff will as well. The facility itself will provide education for children ages 30 months to kindergarten. Sessions cannot last more than 3 hours.
Child Care Centers –
This type of facility requires a full-time program director and the qualifications the director must meet is dependent on how many children are in the facility. The state sets the requirements for both the director and its staff based on their criteria that will include all appropriate background checks. This facility-type can take children as young as two weeks old and sessions can range between 3 hours and up.
Approved Institutions for Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Kansas
Kansas State University
This university has earned a reputation for having an exceptionally safe campus. Here you can get the level of education that you want. They offer a bachelor's degree in elementary education that is good for K-6. They also offer postgraduate and doctoral degree options.
Degrees Offered:
Bilingual and Multilingual Education; Post-grad Certificate
School Counseling and Guidance Services; MS. & Dr.
Curriculum and Instruction; MS. & Dr.
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism; Post-grad Certificate
Educational Leadership and Administration; MS. & Dr.
Elementary Education and Teaching; BS. & MS.
Special Education and Teaching; MS. & Dr.
Student Counseling and Personnel Services: MS.
Accreditation By: Regional Accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission; Education Program Accreditation by NCATE
The University of Saint Mary
This is a liberal arts school. You can get a quality bachelor's degree in elementary education and those that want to go on to complete a postgraduate degree in education can do so on campus or they can choose the online option. For some, completing their postgraduate degree online is a convenient way to add to their credentials while working a full-time job.
Degrees Offered:
Curriculum and Instruction; MS.
Education, General; BS. & MS.
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments; MS.
Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented; MS.
Educational Leadership and Administration; MS.
Elementary Education and Teaching; BS. & MS.
Special Education and Teaching; MS.
Accreditation By: Regional Accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission; Education Program Accreditation by NCATE
The University of Kansas
This is the biggest of all the universities in the state. Here you can get a bachelor's degree in early childhood education that is good for birth through grade 3 as well as elementary education that is good for K-6. In addition, you can also take a choice of postgraduate and doctoral degrees.
Degrees Offered:
Curriculum and Instruction; MS. & Dr.
Early Childhood Education and Teaching; BS.
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism; Post-grad Certificate
Educational Administration and Supervision; MS.
Educational Leadership and Administration; Dr.
Elementary Education and Teaching; BS.
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching; BS., MS., & Dr.
Reading Teacher Education; Post-grad Certificate
Special Education and Teaching; MS., Dr., & Post-grad Certificate
Accreditation By: Regional Accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission; Education Program Accreditation by NCATE
Fort Hays State University
This is a school that has earned a reputation for offering a solid education for a very affordable price. You can earn a BS in early childhood education. The programs here are good for teaching children from birth to 8 years old. The school also offers the ability to complete the program completely online.
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; MS.
Education, General; MS.
Educational Leadership and Administration; MS.
Elementary Education and Teaching; BS.
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching; BS. & MS.
Special Education and Teaching; BS. & MS.
Accreditation By: Regional Accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission; Education Program Accreditation by CAEP
Kansas instructor certification is supervised by the Kansas State Department of Education and also learning's Office of Instructor Licensure and Accreditation (TLA). The common path to licensure is detailed listed below for those intending for more information worrying just how to come to be a teacher in Kansas. A training certification is needed in order to educate in public K-12 colleges in Kansas.
Those that hold a bachelor's degree yet have actually not finished a teacher preparation program may be qualified for alternate teacher accreditation in Kansas. Kansas uses a tiered licensing system for instructors. The Preliminary accreditation is for brand-new instructors that satisfy the standard demands for a mentor certification in the state. After acquiring Preliminary certification, instructors can advance to a Professional license by ending up an academic degree or gaining 120 professional growth factors in a certified program.
Prospective teachers require to furthermore ascertain that the bachelor's level program completed holds local accreditation from one of the 6 regional accreditation firms recognized by the United States Division of Education And Learning. This applies to online and out-of-state mentor accreditation programs along with those located in Kansas. Additionally, institutions might hold certification from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Although CAEP certification is not needed, it is viewed as a marker of high quality curriculum, process, as well as firm. Those that are planning for Kansas educator certification must finish a teacher education and also find a program at an accepted university in addition to a bachelor's level at a regionally recognized organization. All educators in Kansas are required to complete the very least one recommendation on their authorization, which typically requires a major in a recommendation area.
Ending up being a certified trainer in Kansas calls for conclusion of Technique evaluations to show that candidates are totally planned for licensure. The Kansas Division of Education and learning needs leads to pass the Practice Principles of Finding as well as Teaching (PLT) examination ideal to the high quality degree( s) they desire to educate. Prospects will absolutely additionally require to pass the Method Subject Evaluations for all endorsement locations.
In addition, it will absolutely likewise be called for to finish a state-approved trainer preparation program. Licensed education and learning as well as discovering degree programs in the state will definitely consist of the educator preparation job program, to guarantee that you will certainly prepare to get.
Licensure as swiftly as you finish. It is feasible for an instructor stemming from out-of-state, who has actually passed an instructor preparation work program authorized in the state they came from, to have actually those qualifications approved in Kansas. If you have actually not just graduated from an authorized program, you will certainly need a minimum of 8 human resources of education as well as discovering coursework or a full year of mentor experience within the last 6 years when you seek licensure. The 2 various sorts of.
Licensure you can look for consists of birth-kindergarten in addition to birth-third quality. You'll be giving a TB skin exam prior to you starting educating. It will certainly likewise be needed for you to submit to a criminal history check and also experience an approval process with the teacher preparation program as well as the college you relate to show at. The training practicum will definitely typically.
The Educator Licensure and also Qualification (TLA )group at the Kansas State Department of Education as well as discovering is accountable for licensing educators in the state. The arts are taught about core subjects in Kansas' Basic Education And Learning Program, along with the state has in fact well established needs for arts education that focus on the visual arts as a humanizing force in an extremely technological culture. To wind up being an arts teacher in Kansas, follow these actions: The first step ahead to be an art teacher in Kansas is to gain a bachelor's level from a regionally accredited college or university and finish a state-approved teacher prep work program. A checklist of regionally authorized.
Early childhood years experiences lay the framework for a child's future scholastic success. A kid's health as well as wellness as well as additionally physical wellness, along with the innovation of cognitive, communication and also social-emotional capacities, all can be affected by the neighborhood, training setting, household in addition to the private youngster. Reliable plans, targeted and also appropriate levels of funding, in addition to cumulative systems of assistance boost a child's capability to prosper in finding out ambiences.
As in a lot of states in the United States, the Kansas Division of Education and also finding out calls for public-school teachers to contend with at the very least a four-year bachelor's degree. This includes preschool educators. Your level should certainly be in really early youth education. It needs to include basic requirements in addition to your specialist studies. Some circumstances of these would certainly contain language development, analysis of children, human development, actions administration, and also superior growth in early young people.
Moreover, it will absolutely also be necessary to complete a state-approved educator preparation job program. Accepting education and learning and finding out level programs in the state will certainly contain the educator preparation work program, to make certain that you will be ready to make an application for licensure as quickly as you graduate. It is feasible for an instructor originating from out-of-state, who has actually passed a trainer prep work program accepted in the state they originated from, to have in fact those qualifications authorized in Kansas.
If you have not just graduated from an authorized program, you will certainly require at the very least 8 human resources of education and learning and also discovering coursework or a complete year of coach experience within the last 6 years when you acquire licensure. Both different kinds of licensure you can make an application for consist of birth-kindergarten and likewise birth-third grade.
You need to learn about Kansas' requirements for early childhood education. There are two separate programs that Kansas uses to evaluate the educational performance of their children. Both are important and it is important that you get a general understanding of what these programs have to offer.
The Department of Health and Environment publishes this type of education data each year. This data can help parents decide if they should allow their child to attend an early childhood education program or if they should wait until they have completed high school. Here is a quick look at some of the information that parents should know about these programs.
Each state's Department of Health and Environment administers these education programs. Every state has its own set of requirements, but most of them are the same. Kansas requires that children be enrolled in some sort of pre-school for five hours each week. This means that your child must attend a daycare for five hours a day for thirty-five days out of the year. Once they have graduated from the pre-school, they will have to take one hundred and sixty credits for four years at an accredited university or college.
Both states have other requirements for education programs. In addition to having to attend a preschool, both states require that children who enroll in the programs to be immunized and that they pass standardized tests before graduation. The National Council on Education's standards for public schooling states that "high school graduation is the end-goal of any early childhood education program". In addition, they also state that it is essential that the educational institution offer courses for English, Math, Science, Social Studies and History.
Kansas requires that all of their education programs be certified by the National Association of Schools and Colleges. The National Council on Education states that there are different standards that a school needs to meet before they can offer a certification. However, many schools offer these programs and the only things that they need to do is become certified and offer a program that meets the state's requirements.
When comparing requirements for education programs, it is important to look at the level of support that is offered. Many of these programs require that parents work with a counselor who works closely with their children to help them with their educational goals. There are some programs that will also allow families to work together in the classroom and there are others that are more like a home school.
Parents who are interested in having their children enrolled in these programs should realize that they have a number of educational goals. Some want their children to be able to read at the elementary level, while others want them to start learning math and science in pre-K. The state requirements will dictate what kind of programs are best suited for the children that need them.
The best thing that you can do for your family is to make sure that you are getting all of the information that you need about requirements for early childhood education programs in Kansas. If you find that it is not enough, make sure to contact your state's Department of Health and Environment and ask for a list of the requirements that are required in your state. Once you get this list, you will be able to compare the requirements between the two states that you are considering. If you are in a state that has a different set of requirements, you can speak to the department to see if you need to adjust your plan to meet their requirements.
Career Options and Salary Info for Teachers
The state is pushing to improve its overall performance in public education and they are putting an emphasis on early childhood. For this reason, it is projected by some experts that the position will have a solid 10% growth over the next several years. The salary offered depends on several factors and they include qualifications, where in the state you are teaching, and length of time that you've been teaching. On the low end, a preschool teacher might earn in the low $20,000 a year range and a bit over $40,000 a year on the high end. On average, a preschool teacher in the state typically earns around $30,000 a year.
Kansas is serious about improving its overall reputation for public education and it recognizes the importance of teaching children at a young age to get them off to a good start. For this reason, they are seeking highly motivated preschool teachers, and this means it's a great opportunity for those who would like to enter this career path. With the job growth projections being solid and the salaries for the areas cost-of-living being reasonable, it is a great choice for those who really want to play a role in helping children get off to a great start in school.