State Laws

• Each state determines the exact laws regarding the coursework and credentials for public school teachers and teaching assistants. State law also determines charter school teacher credentials, child development credentials, and private school regulations.
  
  

Bachelor's Degree Teaching Positions

• "Highly qualified" teachers, according to NCLB, must have a bachelor's degree appropriate for the subject area and grade level in which they will teach.
  
  

Associate Degree Teaching Positions

• According to the U.S. Department of Education, schools that are at least 40% low-income students are Title I schools. Paraprofessionals or teaching assistants in these programs must have at least an associate degree. Head Start program teachers are also required to have at least an associate degree.
  
  

Associate Degree Options

• Associate degree program options for teaching professionals include early childhood education, child development, and teacher preparation programs that transfer to four-year college bachelor's degree programs.
  
  

Fun Fact

• Many school districts offer professional development programs for classroom teaching assistants to become certified classroom teachers.