How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher in Georgia
Kindergarten teachers lay the foundations for language, writing, and math that students build upon as they progress through elementary school. Read on for information on the Georgia teacher certification system and how to become a certified Kindergarten teacher in Georgia.
Teaching Kindergarten in Georgia: Job Description, Education, and Certification Assessments
<p>Kindergarten teachers educate students in early reading, writing, language, and math skills. This article summarizes the educational requirements and the certification assessments required for becoming certified to teach Kindergarten in Georgia.
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<table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution <br /> Completion of educator preparation program <br /> Completion of course on identifying and educating exceptional children</td></tr>
<tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> GACE Program Admission Assessment <br /> Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Entry <br /> GACE Content Assessment: Birth Through Kindergarten or Early Childhood Education (P-5) <br /> Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Exit <br /> Content Pedagogy Assessment: edTPA</td></tr>
<tr><td> License Validity Period </td><td> Induction Certificate, 3 years</td></tr>
<tr><td> Mean Salary for Kindergarten Teachers in Georgia (2018) </td><td> $54,080*</td></tr>
<tr><td> Estimated Job Growth for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers (2016-2026, nationwide) </td><td> 7%*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3>
<p>Kindergarten teachers teach students to read and write. They teach their students to understand stories, explain sequences of events, make inferences, and to ask and answer basic questions. Kindergarten teachers also instruct their students in early math skills, such as counting, addition, subtraction, identifying shapes, and working through math problems. They provide instruction, provide material for students to work on new skills in class, assess progress, work with students who need extra help, and meet with parents to report on student progress.
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<h3 id="section---PathwaysToCertification">Pathways to Certification</h3>
<p>The state of Georgia has a tiered certification system:
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<ul><li>Tier 1: Pre-Service (Certification required for field work and clinical practice during educator preparation program)
</li><li>Tier 2: Induction
</li><li>Tier 3: Professional
</li><li>Tier 4: Advanced & Lead Professional
</li></ul><p>The Induction Tier is for educators with less than three years of teaching experience. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) has laid out four pathways to certification at the Induction tier. The pathway a candidate should follow will depend upon where the candidate completed the educator preparation program and whether the candidate completed the educator preparation program in conjunction with a bachelor's degree. This article will focus upon the first pathway, which is intended for candidates who completed their educator preparation program in conjunction with their bachelor's degree in Georgia.
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<h3 id="section---Education">Education</h3>
<h4 id="section---Requirements">Requirements</h4>
<ul><li>Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in early childhood education or related field
</li><li>GaPSC-approved Educator Certification Program
</li><li>Course on identifying and educating exceptional children
</li></ul><h4 id="section---EducatorCertificationProgramEntranceRequirements">Educator Certification Program Entrance Requirements</h4>
<ul><li>2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale
</li><li>Passing score on GACE Program Admission Assessment
</li><li>Passing score on GACE Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Entry.
</li></ul><h4 id="section---FieldExperiencesAndClinicalPractice">Field Experiences and Clinical Practice</h4>
<ul><li>Requires Pre-Service Certificate: Will be requested by institution where candidate is completing educator preparation program
</li><li>Candidates for Birth through Kindergarten Certification: Field experience with children 0 to 2, 3 to 4, and in Kindergarten
</li><li>Candidates for Early Childhood Certification: Field experiences with grades PK-K, 1-3, and 4-5
</li><li>At least a semester-long internship
</li></ul><h3 id="section---Certification">Certification</h3>
<p>After completing their educator preparation program, candidates must then pass these assessments:
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<p>1) GACE Content Assessment
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<ul><li>Candidates for Birth through Kindergarten Certification: Birth Through Kindergarten
</li><li>Candidates for Early Childhood Education Certification: Early Childhood Education (P-5)
</li></ul><p>2) Educator Ethics Assessment - Program Exit Assessment
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<p>3)Content Pedagogy Assessment: Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA)
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<h3 id="section---AdvancementToTheProfessionalTier">Advancement to the Professional Tier</h3>
<p>Candidates can advance to this tier after they have taught for three years in a Georgia institution. Educators can work towards one of four certificates at this level.
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<p>1) Standard Professional Certificate: No additional requirements beyond teaching experience, unless seeking a service certificate. Additional requirements will depend upon service field.
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<p>2) Standard Professional Educational Leadership Certificate: Complete GaPSC-approved Tier I Educational Leadership program
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<p>3) Performance-Based Professional Certificate: Earn 'Proficient' or 'Exemplary' rating all three years on TAPS component of evaluation
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<p>4) Performance-Based Professional Educational Leadership Certificate: Complete GaPSC-approved Performance-Based Educational Leadership program, pass GACE Educational Leadership content assessment and Performance Assessment for School Leaders</p>