We start learning even before we are born.1 But how well we learn depends a lot on how well our early childhood educators teach us. Children who receive quality early childhood education tend to thrive throughout childhood and into adulthood. Which is why it’s so important for parents, preschool teachers, and others involved in teaching small children to understand the importance of quality education.
In their Advocacy Toolkit, the Birth to Five Policy Alliance describes many of the positive outcomes children tend to enjoy when they receive quality early childhood education.2 Studied by Walden University students enrolled in the BS in Elementary Education degree course Child Development in the Critical Early Years, the Birth to Five Policy Alliance’s list of positive outcomes demonstrates how essential early childhood education really is. As written in the Advocacy Toolkit, the outcomes include:
School Readiness by Kindergarten
Children who participated in Early Head Start performed better than non-participants on measures of cognition, language, and social and emotional behaviors.
Increased High School Graduation Rates
Children who attended quality preschool were 29% more likely to graduate from high school than their peers who did not attend.
Increased College Attendance
Students who attended quality early education programs, including Perry Preschool, the Abecedarian Project, and Chicago Child Parent Centers, were more likely to attend college than their peers.
Reduced Special Education Costs
Children who received early education through the Carolina Abecedarian program were half as likely as their peers to require special education.
Reduced Crime and Delinquency
Chicago children who did not attend preschool were 70% more likely than peers who did attend to be arrested for a violent crime by age 18.
Fewer Teen Pregnancies
North Carolina children who attended the Abecedarian program were almost half as likely to become teen parents as peers who did not attend.
Greater Adult Employment and Higher Wages
Adults who attended Perry Preschool as children were more likely to be employed and had a 33% higher average income than their peers who did not attend.
Return on Investment of Up to $10 for Every $1 Spent
Cost-benefit analysis by economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis shows that the benefit returned to society comes in the form of reduced crime rates, grade retention and special education placements, and increased high school graduation rates and adult earnings.
How Can You Become an Early Childhood Educator?
One of the best ways to put yourself in position to earn your teacher certification and become a teacher focused on young children is to earn a BS in Elementary Education. Through an elementary education bachelor’s program, you’ll prepare for teacher licensure by learning teaching strategies and exploring the integration of technology in the classroom, building family partnerships, collaboration, and literacy. Many who earn a BS in Elementary Education pursue education careers as preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, or elementary school teachers. And these days, many are earning their BS in Elementary Education online.
Why are so many turning to online education for their education degree? It’s because an online bachelor’s program allows you to complete your coursework from home or from anywhere else you have internet access. Plus, working toward an online teaching degree allows you to attend class at whatever time of day works best for you, which can make it possible to continue working full time while enrolled in school.
We need certified teachers who can provide quality education before and during elementary school. With an online bachelor of science degree in early education, you can gain the skills you need to help our youngest learners get ahead.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering a BS in Elementary Education (Teacher Licensure) degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.
1 Source: www.washington.edu/news/2013/01/02/while-in-womb-babies-begin-learning-language-from-their-mothers
2 Source: http://earlysuccess.org/sites/default/files/website_files/files/July-2011-B25-toolkit-FINAL.pdf
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
Walden University is approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching to offer the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education that leads to Minnesota licensure in elementary education (K–6). However, before Walden can recommend a candidate for teacher licensure, the candidate must also pass the required exams for Minnesota licensure adopted by the Minnesota Board of Teaching, undergo a Minnesota background check, and complete any other Minnesota Board of Teaching requirements beyond completion of Walden’s state-approved teacher preparation program./p>
Individuals interested in pursuing teacher licensure in states other than Minnesota may qualify for a comparable license by virtue of completing the Walden Minnesota-approved teacher preparation program; however, individuals must review their state’s teacher licensing regulations to ensure the program meets all requirements, paying particular attention to any requirements specific to out-of-state program completers. Prospective students seeking to be licensed in states other than Minnesota must research their state licensure requirements to determine (1) if they are required to complete a state-approved licensure program, and (2) if there are any other requirements that apply, especially requirements pertaining to programs provided by out-of-state (except Minnesota) or online institutions.
Individuals enrolling internationally must be supervised by a teacher with a valid U.S. state teaching license, in a school that follows a U.S.-based curriculum at the appropriate grade level for the license. Prospective students must check that the program is accepted for teaching credential in the state they intend to apply for licensure.
Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide general information on state licensure; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all licensure requirements in the state they wish to teach. Walden makes no representation or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure or endorsement.