Credentials of Teachers in 24 States Where Elementary and Early Childhood Education Licenses Overlap in Grades K, 1, 2, and/or 3

• In Event: Early Childhood Workforce and Leadership

Abstract

This study investigates a claim that has raised much concern among early childhood educators: the contention that a large percentage of teachers in the early primary grades in the United States have elementary education (ELED) rather than early childhood education (ECED) licenses. We investigated this claim by sending information requests to states where ECED and ELED licenses overlap in Grades K, 1, 2, and/or 3. Responses from the 24 states that provided this information indicate that a high percentage of early primary teachers in overlapping grades in these states hold ELED licenses only: 72% in kindergarten, 75% in first, 79% in second, and 85% in third grade. The current results support calls for PreK-3 alignment.

Author

• R. Clarke Fowler, Salem State University