Texas, with its expansive range of early childhood education services, is a vibrant landscape for qualified teachers and special educators. Spanning thousands of programs, these opportunities include daycare centers, private preschools, faith-based institutions, and Head Start initiatives. Each of these settings offers a unique environment for learning and development while maintaining a common goal – shaping bright young minds.
While the sheer number of private programs provides extensive choices for early education, specific requirements must be met at a public level. In Texas, all school districts with a minimum of 15 children from economically and educationally underserved homes are obligated to extend a public pre-K option.
While meeting this obligation, district authorities are given the liberty to decide the structure, funding, and execution of early childhood education programs. Certain districts, such as Fort Worth, have adopted an inclusive approach. They offer cost-free pre-K facilities to all families, regardless of their economic conditions. On the contrary, districts like those in the Tarrant area function on a tuition-based model.
Revealing Texas’ Ranking & Growth Potential
No shock to most, Texas occupies a top-ranking position in terms of employment figures for preschool educators and administrators. The state boasted an impressive workforce of around 37,100 early childhood educators, special educators, and administrators in 2016. The Texas Workforce Commission projects that these numbers will surge by over 7,000 within a decade.
The opportunity canvas for early childhood educators in Texas is indeed a broad one. From privately run daycare centers and preschools to publicly funded educational institutes and Head Start programs, professionals can explore a spectrum of career avenues.
Step 1. Fulfill Your Academic Obligations
The roadmap to becoming a preschool teacher in Texas is paved with a thorough understanding of early childhood education. The prerequisites, however, depend on the sponsoring and administrating entity of the chosen preschool program:
- Head Start – Texas;
- Texas Early Learning Council;
- Texas Education Agency.
Diving into the Intellectual Depths of Early Childhood Education:
A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education forms the foundation for your teaching career in Texas. It not only enlightens you with the intricacies of early childhood development but also sets the stage for procuring the license from the Texas Education Agency.
As you delve into the world of early childhood education, the course will acquaint you with several focus areas:
- The social and cultural underpinnings of early childhood education;
- Creation and development of programs and curriculum for young learners;
- The role of play in early childhood development;
- Invigorating parental involvement in the learning process;
- Theories that define curriculum development for kindergarten and preschool;
- Analyzing early childhood education from critical perspectives;
- Early childhood education across the globe: a comparative outlook;
- Understanding different modalities of early childhood programs;
- Insights from the major theorists in the field of early childhood education.
Prepare for the Texas Education Agency Certification:
To sail smoothly through the teacher certification process of the Texas Education Agency, a sojourn through an approved teacher preparation program, with a concentration on early childhood education, is necessary. A significant part of this journey is the student teaching experience, which takes you into the depths of a real preschool classroom.
Advancing Your Academic Journey:
While a bachelor’s degree serves as a launching pad for your preschool teaching career, it is not the end of the academic road. Many budding and practicing teachers opt to acquire a master’s degree such as M.A.T., M.Ed., or MATL, with a concentration in early childhood education, to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Step 2. Encountering the Head Start Preschool Teacher Standards
Head Start, a program committed to giving preschool access to children from underprivileged backgrounds in Texas, mandates certain qualifications for its teachers. A bachelor’s degree centered on early childhood education or development coupled with a valid Texas teaching certificate form the crux of these requirements.
Alternatively, these qualifications can also meet the minimum requirements for a position in the Head Start program:
- Texas Education Agency’s teaching certification;
- A bachelor’s degree comprising at least 18 credits in early childhood education or development.
Exploring the Texas Early Learning Council’s Early Childhood Career Lattice
The Texas Early Learning Council, established by the governor of Texas, is centered on formulating strategies to elevate the state’s early childhood education. The Council’s unique Early Childhood Career Lattice sets the standards for teaching excellence and outlines a trajectory for professional development of preschool teachers in the state.
Preschool teachers can choose to adhere to these benchmarks to showcase distinct skills and capabilities and become more appealing to preschool employers and families:
- Entry Level Beginner early childhood educator – high school diploma or equivalent;
- Level 1 – High school diploma or equivalent with 3 education credits related to early childhood education;
- Level 2 – Current and valid Child Development Associate credential;
- Level 3 – Early childhood technical certificate with a one-year certificate;
- Level 4 Intermediate early childhood educator – Associate’s degree in early childhood education or a similar field;
- Level 5 – Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a complementary field;
- Level 6 Advanced early childhood educator – Master’s degree in early childhood education or a correlative field;
- Level 7 – Doctoral degree in early childhood education or a pertinent field.
Understanding the Texas Education Agency Teaching Certification
Certain preschools may stipulate an official Texas state teaching certification. The Texas Education Agency confers this certification as a Generalist teacher certificate suitable for early childhood education through the sixth grade, also recognized as Core Subjects EC-6th grade certification.
To earn this certification, you need to complete a corresponding teacher preparation program and related tests alongside possessing a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
The specific testing requirements include:
- Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) Exam – This exam evaluates your understanding of pedagogy for EC-6th grade. You will receive further information about the exam’s content and registration in your teacher preparation program;
- Generalist Core Subjects EC-6th grade TExES #291 exam – This is available in paper and computer-based formats. The 5-hour exam consists of 267 multiple-choice questions spread across five main subject areas: English Language Arts, Reading, and the Science of Teaching Reading, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education.
The TExES, referred to as the Texas Examination of Educator Standards, is the state’s evaluation service supervised by the Texas Education Agency in partnership with Educational Testing Services (ETS). Registration for the TExES exam is online, with testing locations scattered throughout the state, including Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Laredo.
Upon completion of a bachelor’s degree, a teacher preparation program for a General EC-6th grade teacher, and passing the required tests, you can proceed to submit an online application through the state’s Educator Certification Online System (ECOS). Post certification by the Texas Education Agency, you will be eligible for preschool teacher roles requiring you to be a state-certified teacher.
Step 3. Manage and Improve Your Texas Preschool Teaching Credentials
As a certified preschool teacher in Texas, your path to excellence doesn’t end with obtaining the initial certificate. To remain effective, you’re required to complete 150 hours of approved continuing professional education. This could take the form of attending dedicated workshops, earning additional college credits, or taking relevant online classes within the sphere of early childhood education.
Treading the Path of Head Start Teachers
If you’re a teacher within the Texas Head Start program and you haven’t yet acquired a teaching certification or a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, the journey is still open. Advancing your education in this field is an insightful step to meeting your goals and setting new ones.
Climbing Higher on the Early Childhood Career Lattice
Teachers following the guidelines of the Early Childhood Career Lattice, created by the Texas Early Learning Council, have several avenues to advance their credentials. By consistently improving your education and gaining meaningful hands-on experience, you have the opportunity to level up within this career progression model.
The Power of Higher Education in Early Childhood Education
Regardless of the qualification path you choose, the formula for success remains the same – education. From a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree like an M.A.T., M.Ed., or MATL in early childhood education, higher education is valued across preschools in the state. Not only does it exhibit your commitment to providing high-quality education, but it also showcases your comprehensive understanding of the field. In certain competitive markets within Texas, having a degree in early childhood education is a standard requirement.
To stay updated with the latest happenings, events, and educational opportunities for preschool teachers in Texas, consider connecting with these organizations:
- Texas Head Start: Offering resources and guidance for teachers in the Head Start program;
- Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS): Providing professional growth plans, portfolios, and course listings;
- Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TAEYC): Offering resources, advocacy, and conferences;
- Texans Care for Children: Advocating for policies to ensure the well-being of Texas children;
- Children’s Defense Fund – Texas: Working towards ensuring every child has a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life.
Texas Preschool Teacher Salaries
In Texas, earnings for Early Childhood Education (ECE) professionals align with national trends. However, Texas takes the lead when it comes to the top earners in ECE, outperforming the national average by $7,000-$9,000. Let’s look more closely at the income brackets for these roles (median, 75th, and 90th percentile):
- Preschool Teachers: $28,230 – $48,480 – $61,500;
- Special Education Teachers (Preschool): $52,960 – $60,510 – $66,090;
- Preschool Administrators: $44,230 – $52,620 – $79,090.
Let’s now delve deeper into the income potential for ECE professionals in Texas’ most populous regions, investigating some of the key employers there.
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
The Dallas Independent School District provides pre-K programs in its numerous schools. The district offers pre-K education, which includes programs for three-year-olds, four-year-olds, and collaborates with Head Start at preferred schools. Tuition is waived for eligible students, otherwise, it’s fee-based. The district boasts a variety of preschool programs, including private, learning center-based, and faith-based programs such as:
- Ridgewood Park Preschool;
- Northaven Cooperative Preschool;
- Little Saints Preschool;
- Fair Oaks Day School;
- Rosewood Academy.
Preschool professionals in Dallas, whether in a private, district-based, or Head Start program, can expect to earn the following salaries:
- Preschool Teachers:
- Median: $28,230;
- 75th percentile: $49,920;
- 90th percentile: $59,920.
- Special Education Teachers (Preschool):
- Median: $58,090;
- 75th percentile: $62,740;
- 90th percentile: $67,250.
- Preschool Administrators:
- Median: $46,300;
- 75th percentile: $54,910;
- 90th percentile: $77,310.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
The Houston Independent School District presents a robust pre-K program catering to at-risk or economically disadvantaged children, offering free early learning. If space allows, non-eligible students can also attend through the district’s fee-based preschool program. In total, 155 campuses offer pre-K throughout the metro Houston area.
Head Start programs are also readily available, as well as faith-based and other private programs such as:
- Harris Head Start;
- Advance Head Start;
- Sheffield Head Start;
- Garden Villa Head Start;
- Klein Early Head Start/Head Start.
ECE professionals in Houston, including preschool teachers, special education teachers, and preschool administrators, can anticipate earnings within these ranges:
- Preschool Teachers:
- Median: $26,750;
- 75th percentile: $51,630;
- 90th percentile: $62,990.
- Special Education Teachers (Preschool):
- Median: $58,900;
- 75th percentile: $63,410;
- 90th percentile: $76,200.
- Preschool Administrators:
- Median: $42,970;
- 75th percentile: $50,320;
- 90th percentile: $85,590.
San Antonio-New Braunfels
In San Antonio, the city’s commitment to young learners is visible through its Pre-K 4 SA, an inclusive pre-K program for eligible children. This program is free for qualifying students, while others can attend through its sliding-scale tuition program.
Head Start programs are abundant here, as are private and learning center-based preschools like:
- Discovery School;
- Pre-K 4 SA Education Center;
- Cadence Academy;
- The Serendipity School;
- Giant Steps Early Learning School;
- San Antonio Head Start.
Preschool teachers, special education teachers, and preschool administrators in the San Antonio area can expect to earn:
- Preschool Teachers:
- Median: $30,250;
- 75th percentile: $55,620;
- 90th percentile: $61,690.
- Special Education Teachers (Preschool):
- Median: $45,750;
- 75th percentile: $53,340;
- 90th percentile: $61,970.
- Preschool Administrators:
- Median: $43,960;
- 75th percentile: $51,190;
- 90th percentile: $63,970.
Austin-Round Rock
The Austin Independent School District provides a Pre-K program for three- and four-year-olds in the district. Children who meet specific eligibility requirements can attend these programs free of charge; others can attend through the district’s fee-based Pre-K program.
In addition to district-based preschool programs and Head Start programs, students in Austin can attend unique, private programs such as:
- Academia Preescolar Spanish Immersion;
- Austin STEM Academy;
- Children’s Network Early Learning Center;
- Good Earth Farm School;
- Eco Kids Preschool;
- Highland Montessori School.
Preschool teachers, special education preschool teachers, and preschool administrators in the Austin area earn the following salaries:
- Preschool Teachers:
- Median: $28,650;
- 75th percentile: $37,020;
- 90th percentile: $67,580.
- Special Education Teachers (Preschool):
- Median: $37,260;
- 75th percentile: $48,340;
- 90th percentile: $58,820.
- Preschool Administrators:
- Median: $46,010;
- 75th percentile: $56,390;
- 90th percentile: $80,200.
Conclusion
Embarking on the journey of becoming a preschool teacher in Texas is an opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of young learners. The process, laden with academic milestones and professional growth, requires fervor and commitment. By navigating the path efficiently – adhering to various preschool teaching standards, optimizing professional development opportunities, and focusing on specialized learning – educators can pave the way for a thriving career while contributing to the state’s educational wealth.