Requirements for ECE Teacher Certification in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation as it is only 48 miles long and 37 miles wide and it’s considered to be one of the most densely populated states with a population of 1,056,298 in 2015, according to the United States Census Bureau. Five percent of the population are children under the age of five, making the demand for early childhood educators quite high and expected to increase by 17% during the next three years (by 2022).
Because Rhode Island considers its children one of its most precious assets, early childhood teachers are required to have very high qualifications and all education professionals are held to a high standard. According to the American Communities Survey, done in 2013, Rhode Island’s elementary school teachers are the highest paid in the country, with an average salary of $75,028.
Rhode Island Steps to Follow for Teachers
According to the U.S. Department of Education and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), there was a shortage of educators in 2010 to 2011 for Grades PreK-12 in Early Childhood Education, English as a second language, and more.
The RIDE Office of Educator Quality and Certification requires teacher certification candidates to meet a high level of quality, as defined by the federal government. Qualifications include earning a bachelor’s degree from an approved educator preparation program as well as passing certain state-required examinations to obtain certification.
All employers of educators in Rhode Island must ensure the educator holds a valid certification or an appropriate permit while also determining the competency of the educator’s English before hiring the individual to teach.
Step 1. Earn Your Degree
To become a certified ECE teacher in the state of Rhode Island, candidates must hold at least a bachelor’s degree, earned from an RI Department of Education-approved accredited Institution. You’ll also have to make sure to graduate from an academic preparation program specifically tuned for ECE teachers. A list of these programs can be found at the Rhode Island Department of Education website.
If you’ve earned a degree from an out-of-state institution, you’ll need to take specific courses to make sure you have fulfilled all requirements, but you can still earn certification as long as you have at least a bachelor’s degree and six semesters of age-appropriate student teaching.
Step 2. Pass Your Exams
PRAXIS
In Rhode Island in order to become a certified teacher, you must take and pass the Praxis i Pre-Professional Skills Exams before enrolling in a Rhode Island educator program. You must score a composite of 535 or; 179 in Math, 179 in reading, and 177 in writing. You may be exempt from this test if:
Your SAT score was 1150 composite (530 on math and 530 on verbal)
Your ACT score was 24 on reading and 20 on math
Your GRE score was 1100 composite with at least 584 quantitative and 465 verbal
You hold a master’s degree accompanied by a GPA of 3.0 or higher
In Rhode Island, all educators are also required to take and pass PRAXIS ll, content tests and pedagogy exams in their chosen area.
ECE EXAMS you can take option 1 or option 2
Option 1
Early Childhood Education - test code 5025 - passing score 156
Education of Young Children - test code 5024 - passing score 160
Option 2
Principles of Learning & Teaching, K-6 - test code 5622 - passing score 160
Elementary Education (multiple subjects) - test code 5001
Subtests
Reading & Language Arts - test code 5002 - passing score 157
Mathematics - test code 5003 - passing score 157
Social Studies - test code 5004 - passing score 155
Science - test code 5005 - passing score 159
You can retake any of the above exams, if needed, just by registering.
Step 3. Standards and Qualifications
Rhode Island has five Standards for Educator Preparation:
STANDARD ONE: PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Programs must ensure that candidates have a deep understanding of the practices, principles, and critical concepts of their chosen area and, after completing the program, they can use their knowledge flexibly to progress towards higher education and career readiness.
STANDARD TWO: CLINICAL PRACTICE AND PARTNERSHIPS
Programs ensure that effective partnerships and clinical practice are of high quality and central to preparation for candidates to develop the professional dispositions, skills, and knowledge necessary for positive impact on PreK-12 student’s development and learning.
STANDARD THREE: RECRUITMENT, CANDIDATE QUALITY, AND ASSESSMENT
Programs are responsible for ensuring the candidate develops teaching quality, as this is the goal of preparation for educators in all program phases - from recruitment and admission to clinical experience and courses progression, and upon completion, candidates will be recommended for certification and will be effective educators.
STANDARD FOUR: PROGRAM IMPACT
Programs produce effective PreK-12 classrooms and educators that demonstrate responsibility, improvement, and practice for PreK-12 student learning and development.
STANDARD FIVE: PROGRAM QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT
Programs collect and analyze multiple measures of data and program performance and use it for improving continuously. They also assure that their programs are adequate for physical and personnel resources to meet these standards and address needs identified in maintaining program quality.
On top of leadership and teaching standards for professional educators, RIDE has also established a code of professional responsibilities:
Rhode Island Professional Teaching Standards (RIPTS)
Standards that identify professional knowledge and skills expected of all teachers.
Rhode Island Standards for Educational Leadership
Educational leaders ensure that each student is successful
Rhode Island Code of Professional Responsibility
Teachers establish a deep understanding of their field
Popular Career Choices
Preschool Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Elementary School Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training - Educational Aid Foundation Formula
The Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training estimates by 2024 there will be an annual average of 85% job openings due to elementary school teachers’ replacements.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently around 10,380 elementary, middle, and secondary teachers in RI.
There is clear evidence that shows children who attend early childhood education programs that are of high quality, develop important cognitive and social skills as well as knowledge, which helps to prepare them for success in future classes.
Rhode Island will also be taking a phased-in approach called, The Rhode Island Educational Aid Foundation Formula, to broaden access to high-quality learning for Pre-K, which will begin with communities that have a higher need for free or reduced lunch. This Pre-K expansion will create high-quality learning processes, improvements for students who are most in need of access, and establish a smooth transition from early childhood learning through K-12.
Accredited Rhode Island Programs
A bachelor’s degree
Complete a teacher preparation program that ensures candidates demonstrate pedagogical competencies, is approved by RIDE, and meet their professional teaching standards.
A minimum of 12 weeks of field experience that includes student teaching in the first area of certification, as well as other field requirements.
60 hours minimum of field experience prior to passing scores on subject matter testing, pedagogy testing, and student teaching required for the area of certification.
Early Childhood Teacher Certificates
Early Childhood Education Teacher
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Early Childhood Bilingual and Dual Language Education Teacher
Early Childhood English as a Second Language Teacher
Early Childhood Education Teacher, Grades PK - 2
Accredited Early Childhood Educator Teacher Preparation Programs
When colleges or universities voluntarily choose to be accredited, they are evaluated by an outside association and if the association’s standards are met by the institution, they approve accreditation. Therefore, if you want to look good in an employer’s eyes, you should only attend a school that is accredited by a reputable association.
Most of the colleges and universities in Rhode Island are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition to the institutional accreditations, a number of individual programs offered by schools are often also accredited by a separate organization.
Brown University
Degrees Offered:
Bilingual and Multilingual Education; Master’s
Elementary Education and Teaching; Master’s
Education, General; Bachelor’s & Dr.
Urban Education and Leadership; Master’s
Accreditation By:
The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Johnson & Wales University
Degrees Offered:
Educational Leadership and Administration; Dr.
Accreditation By:
The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Providence College
Degrees Offered:
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s
Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship; Master’s
Reading Teacher Education; Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s & Master’s
Urban Education & Leadership; Master’s
Accreditation By:
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
Community College of Rhode Island
Degrees Offered:
Early Childhood Education and Teaching; 1-year Certificate
Special Education and Teaching; Associate’s
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching; Associate’s
Accreditation By:
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Rhode Island College
Degrees Offered:
Curriculum and Instruction; Post-grad Certificate
Early Childhood Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s & Master’s
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs; Master’s
Education/Teaching of Individuals who are Developmentally Delayed; Master’s
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism; Post-grad Certificate
Elementary Education and teaching; Bachelor’s, Master’s, & Post-grad Certificate
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Reading Teachers Education; Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s & Master’s
ESL Teacher Education; Master’s
Accreditation By:
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Specialization Additional Certifications
Applicants who seek reciprocity can get a Preliminary Certificate called the Temporary Initial Educator Certificate, which is issued for a limited time if requirements are met, which include, when applicable, the English Language Competency Test. This will give the applicant some time to take the test that may not have been an option in their state.
Those who are not eligible for full certification can get a Preliminary Certification if they meet specific criteria to qualify them as educators of record and complete all other certification requirements.
The holders of an Alternative Route Preliminary Certificate can serve as a teacher of record for at least a year. After successfully completing all the program, recommendation for licensure, and state testing requirements, candidates will be eligible for a Rhode Island Initial Educator Certificate.
There are six types of preliminary certificates that the Department of Education issues:
Career and Technical Education Preliminary Certificate
Expert Residency Preliminary Certificate
Emergency Preliminary Certificate
Temporary Initial Educator Preliminary Certificate
Alternate Route Preliminary Certificate
Visiting Lecturer Preliminary Certificate
If you would like to continue your education and become a special education teacher, principal, or assistant, you must first obtain a qualified certificate issued by the authority of the council.
Educators in Rhode Island are needed to be licensed in order to be qualified to work in the public establishment system. The state's Department of Education and Learning looks after the accreditation procedure, which is described below to assist you learn just how to find to be an instructor in Rhode Island. To be eligible for Rhode Island teacher credentials, prospects should hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally certified university or university and additionally finish a teacher prep work program accredited by the state.
Prospects who have a bachelor's level yet did not complete a teacher preparation program may have a rate of interest in various teacher accreditation in Rhode Island. Teachers are issued a Preliminary Instructor Certificate. Prospects might advance to the adhering to level of licensure, which is the Specialist Teacher Qualification, by finishing 3 years of mentor under the Initial certification along with making efficient evaluation rankings for their training technique.
There are 6 local certification companies looked after by the United States Division of Education And Learning And Also Learning. Organizations using on the internet teacher credentials programs should certainly similarly be regionally identified according to the school's headquartered state. Additionally, colleges might hold certification from the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP). CAEP accreditation is acknowledged for its laborious standards for teacher prep work.
The education and finding out completed need to include at least 60 hours of area experience as well as 12 weeks of student training. The area experience demand is for each accreditation area sought. Additionally, potential customers need to have graduated from the program finished no higher than 5 years before the submission of the application for a training credential.
Rhode Island calls for candidates looking for instructor certification to reveal any kind of criminal background, containing offense offenses. While a background check is not needed to make an application for instructor licensure, specific college areas may require state in addition to federal history checks as a trouble of work. When all steps towards Rhode Island teacher accreditation are total, leads need to provide the adhering to records to acquire licensure: Authorities transcripts disclosing evidence of bachelor's degree.
The devotion to end up being an instructor is an intriguing one that grants your hard work with the gratification that you are making a difference in the lives of your students. Our smallest state, Rhode Island, believes substantially in relation to their scholastic system. If you're thinking of happening to a teacher in this little nevertheless terrific state, keep reading to determine just how you can happen licensed.
Rhode Island instructors need to pass the Praxis I Pre-Professional Abilities Examination as well as additionally the proper Method II material location evaluation. Throughout your educator certification procedure, you must provide your criminal history on your application kind.
If you want to wind up being accredited to enlighten in Rhode Island using a detour, you might participate in a Different Instructor Program or get among the Initial Instructor Certificates. A lot more information of Rhode Island's alternative mentor qualification choices. Your First Certificate means 5 years, throughout which time you will definitely be evaluated to see whether you can progress to the Professional Certification.
Teacher certification demands vary by state. Nevertheless, there are a number of credentials that every state requires to show at the general public university level. Demand details from a number of colleges to discover the very best program and additionally instructional opportunity for you!.
When looking for the best qualifications to be a Preschool Teacher in Rhode Island, you should look into what the school district will be able to offer and what specific areas of the state that the school will be located in. While the requirements for being a teacher in many states are similar, there are differences in some areas. Many of these differences come down to what type of education the student is getting and what their particular needs are.
Requirements For a High School Diploma In most cases, a person will have to go to college and get their Associate's Degree before they can be considered for employment as a Preschool Teacher in Rhode Island. However, in some states it may be required to have a General Education Diploma (GED). This will help the school determine if they will have someone who has the knowledge needed to handle their classes.
Experience While not necessary, there are times when it is very beneficial for a teacher to have experience with a particular subject matter. This will allow them to know what problems are common and what solutions work best. Having this knowledge will also help the school to keep track of any problems or concerns that may arise in the future.
Leadership The school should make sure that any teacher who will be teaching children in their class has the skills to lead others in the right direction. If there are children who don't feel safe in the classroom, then they need to be taught how to be responsible for their own actions.
Communication: Having a good working relationship with students, parents, and other teachers is critical for a classroom environment. If you show your students respect and have a friendly tone, they will be more likely to listen and pay attention when you speak. If they feel like they have been ignored or if they don't know what to do, they might find themselves looking for another teacher to take their frustrations elsewhere.
Teaching Children's Behavior There are several things that you need to know when teaching children. You must be able to identify the problems and how they will be corrected. This is essential so that you can teach children the correct way of behaving in situations.
Some schools in Rhode Island have different types of programs that are geared towards different kinds of students, so you need to make sure that you look at what is available. before signing up.
When looking for the best qualifications to be a Preschool Teacher in Rhode Island, it is important to know where the school will be located and what kind of experience is offered before you start your job search. The school should be able to provide all of the information that you need to get started on your job search. Make sure that you get a good look at the curriculum and the teaching methods that they use in order to ensure that you are happy with their teaching skills.
Evaluating Child's Progress It is important to know what is going on with each child in the classroom. You need to be able to look at how much time is being spent on each child to see where improvements are needed. You want to make sure that they are all being given proper praise and support in order to see positive changes in the classroom.
Finding the Right School If you have never taught children before, then you will need to make sure that you find a preschool that is not only a safe environment, but one that is also willing to teach the type of preschool that you will be teaching. if you become a new teacher.
When you are applying for a job, make sure that you include your teaching skills and experience so that the school can evaluate your suitability. When you have all of this information ready, then you will have an easier time finding out what the requirements are for teaching in the area you want to teach in.
Qualifications to Be a Preschool Teacher in Rhode Island can take some time to learn, so don't give up and think that you can't qualify. The school needs to be willing to work with you in order to get you through the process. They also need to recognize that you will be a good fit for their school environment.
Career Options and Salary Info for Teachers
There are many benefits to being a teacher in Rhode Island. Two of the most important benefits are; teachers are in high demand in Rhode Island and they get paid above average salaries. The following are some of the salary rankings in Rhode Island:
Kindergarten & elementary school special education teachers in the US: rank #2
Childcare and preschool education administrators in the US: rank #3
Preschool special education teachers in the US: rank #
Childcare workers in the US: rank #5
Preschool teachers, except special education in the US: rank #16
Early childhood educators also have the advantage of choosing where they wish to work, here are some of your options:
Public schools
Private childcare
Private schools
Head Start programs
Community-based programs
Faith-based programs
Military programs
Some of the many jobs you will qualify for are:
Childcare Worker
Social workers for child, family, and school
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Kindergarten and Elementary School Special Education Teachers
Preschool Special Education Teachers
Childcare and Preschool Education Administrators