Indicator 27: Teachers With Early Childhood Certification

 

Why This Is Important

Having a strong background in early childhood education may help elementary teachers in
the primary grades plan and adjust their instruction to their learners’ needs. School boards
and administrators that support professional development efforts and hiring criteria that
encourage more elementary level teachers to have this special level of certification are
demonstrating a way to make schools readier for children.

 

 

Where We Stand

Teachers who hold Early Childhood Education Certificates have completed coursework
and training specific to the developmental needs of young children (ages 0-8). While 179
Maine teachers have this certification in the 2003-2004 school year, this is only 2% of the
public and private elementary school classroom teachers in Maine. Furthermore, of those
individuals that now hold such a certificate, only 45 are employed in a school setting.

Data Sources and Context

The data source is the Division of Certification, Maine Department of Education, 2005.