1Source: National Education Association (NEA), The Teacher Shortage Can Be Addressed — With Key Changes.
2The Wall Street Journal, Teacher Shortage Compounds Covid-19 Crisis in Schools.
3Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, SOC codes 25-2012 and 25-2021, Job Outlook. Retrieved March 2021. National job growth and salary estimates may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee job growth or salaries, and are subject to change.
4Source: Walden University Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA), as of December 31, 2019.
Accreditation
Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences is accredited based on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards through June 2026. This accreditation covers specific Walden initial teacher and advanced educator preparation programs, including the BS in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Special Education specialization, MS in Education – Educational Leadership and Administration specialization, and EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration. The MAT-SPED, MSED-ELA, and EdS-ELA programs were reviewed by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs), which define content-area standards for programs, and achieved national recognition.
CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement. Walden’s College of Education and Human Sciences has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement. CAEP is a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) – recognized national accreditor for educator preparation.
Licensure
Walden is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education to offer a program leading to initial principal licensure. Candidates seeking licensure in Ohio are responsible for completing any other Ohio requirements beyond Walden’s state-approved program. The Ohio Department of Higher Education is solely responsible for reviewing applications and issuing licenses.
Individuals interested in licensure in states other than Ohio may qualify by virtue of completing a state-approved educator preparation program; however, individuals must review their state’s regulations to ensure the program meets all requirements, paying particular attention to any requirements specific to out-of-state program completers. Individuals who reside in certain states may be ineligible to enroll in this program. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide guidance on licensure questions; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements. Walden makes no representation or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure.
Walden is approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to offer a program leading to a Minnesota Tier 3 license in Elementary Education. Candidates seeking licensure in Minnesota are responsible for completing all Minnesota requirements beyond Walden’s state-approved program, including passing the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exams. The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) is solely responsible for reviewing applications and issuing licenses.
