How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher in Illinois
The following article focuses on Illinois state requirements for teaching kindergarten. Information provided includes education requirements, state exam requirements, certification renewal, median salary, and job outlook data.
Information for Kindergarten Teachers in Illinois
Kindergarten teachers prepare students for elementary school by developing language, math, and other learning skills. In Illinois, kindergarten teachers typically select the early childhood education endorsement level as this covers teaching children from birth to second grade. Read on for more information about education, exams, and certification. You will also find median salary statistics and the job outlook for kindergarten teachers.
<table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Educational Requirements</b> </td><td> Bachelor's degree, teacher education program</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Exams Required</b> </td><td> Basic skills test, edTPA, Early Childhood content examination</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>License Validity Period</b> </td><td> Five years, renewable every five years.</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Requirements for Renewal</b> </td><td> 120 hours of professional development</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2018)*</b> </td><td> $55,850</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026)*</b> </td><td> 8%, nationwide</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3><p>Kindergarten teachers prepare students for primary school by teaching beginning concepts in various subjects including reading, basic math, social studies, and other subjects. Evaluating students' work is part of the job as well as communicating with parents regarding student progress or challenges. These educators also teach students important skills such as social interaction and the importance of following rules.
</p><h3 id="section---EducationalRequirements">Educational Requirements</h3><p>Prospective kindergarten teachers in Illinois must complete a bachelor's degree program from an accredited college or university with a teacher education program. Many kindergarten teachers will major in early childhood education and will take courses in topics such as language literacy, child development and technology, art in early childhood, and understanding families, communities, and schools. Programs should include a student teaching component that allows prospective teachers a chance to learn skills in the classroom under the guidance of a mentor.
</p><h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3><p>All teachers in Illinois must take and pass a basic skills exam as well as the edTPA. Basic skills can be met with qualifying SAT or ACT scores, while the edTPA is a teacher performance assessment usually included as part of a teacher preparation program. Kindergarten teachers seeking an early childhood endorsement will need to complete the Early Childhood content exam. This test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and three hours and thirty minutes are allotted for exam completion. Candidates must score above 240 to pass, and can prepare for the exams by reviewing the ILTS Early Childhood Education Preparation Materials.
</p><h3 id="section---LicenseValidityAndRenewal">License Validity and Renewal</h3><p>Kindergarten teachers in Illinois must apply for a Professional Educator License. Applying for this license means that Illinois educational requirements have been met and the exams have been completed. Licenses are valid for five years. Illinois requires all teachers to complete 120 hours of professional development for license renewal. Licenses must be registered with the superintendent of schools where the teacher works or lives.
</p><h3 id="section---MedianSalaryAndJobOutlook">Median Salary and Job Outlook</h3><p>In May 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual salary for kindergarten teachers in Illinois was $55,850. The BLS reported that the national job outlook for kindergarten teachers was 8% for the period between 2016-2026. BLS notes that this outlook is about as fast as average compared to all other occupations.</p>