Do teacher qualifications affect the quality of preschool programs?
The studies already cited in answers to the first 4 questions provide a resounding “yes”. One of the most important factors in the effectiveness of any educational program is the teacher.9 Good teachers provide children with intentional experiences that are both developmentally appropriate and will enhance their social, developmental, and academic growth.10 And, one of the most crucial influences on a teacher’s ability to contribute to program quality is his or her education and training.11 Studies find that a concentration in early childhood coursework is positively correlated with teachers’ beliefs regarding the provision of instruction and experiences that are more developmentally appropriate for young children.12 Teachers who receive specialized training in early childhood also use strategies that facilitate young children’s language, cognitive, and social skills. 13 Furthermore, those who have the most sensitive and least harsh and detached behavior have attained both a bachelor’s
