career connection
education
Teacher Forecast
$36,144
Average starting
salary with B.A.
K-4 for a Better Alabama Means More
Impactful Teaching Opportunities
$48,970 of teachers in AL
Average salary
(Generally $5k-10k more per year with a Master’s)
6% job growth
projected over the next 10 years
Process:
Earn bachelor’s degree
Generally 36-40 credit hours (Closer to 60 for secondary
teachers; you effectively major in teaching AND your field.)
Pass the tests
The Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program
(APTTP), the Basic Skills Assessment (Math, Reading,
and Writing), and the Praxis II; most will be taken in the
course of your degree.
Practicum
Different college programs require time spent in schools
before student teaching. Hours required in each
teaching environment varies by school, including some
before or after the school year. Be sure you ask your
department about these details!
Alabama has a high rate of poverty at about 19% and
for children it’s even higher – nearly 27%. As Rhonda
Mann, Policy and Research Developer at VOICES for
Alabama’s Children says, “Poverty does not define the
child but it does add another layer of struggle to their
life and it impacts every area of a child’s life—health,
education, safety, as well as economic security. Breaking the cycle of poverty will be a difficult task, but we
know that the road out of poverty is education, and
starting early is the key.”
Quality Pre-K programs have a tremendous impact on
the outcomes of children, especially those growing up
in poverty. “Income seems to be a large contributing
factor to a child’s lack of educational achievement. By
making Pre-K available to all four year olds, we help
level the playing field so all students begin school on a
more equal footing.
The goal for Alabama’s First Class Pre-K Programs is to
close achievement gaps, by as much as 25%. “Teacher
effectiveness is among the most important factors
impacting the quality of pre-kindergarten programs,”
says Susan K. Urahn Director of The Pew Center.
“Fully funding First Class Pre-K will give
every four year-old child access to early
learning and prepare them