Finding Your Perfect School Starts Here!
Step 1
Please answer the question below so that we can help you find your ideal school.
A Master's Degree Can Give Teachers Critical Skills
By Catherine Groux
Posted January 10, 2012 08:39 AM
Many teachers now earn master's degrees to advance their skills.Many people agree that elementary and middle school teachers play an important role in students' lives. However, a new study by Harvard and Columbia University researchers aimed to prove it. The study, which tracked 2.5 million students over 20 years, found that pupils who had high-quality teachers were more likely to earn a college degree and receive higher salaries. Additionally, these children were less likely to become teenage parents if they had a high-quality educator.
As elementary and middle school teachers are so influential in shaping children's lives, many states have mandated that they and other educators earn master's degrees to advance their skills. In Massachusetts, for example, teachers must earn a master's degree within five years of accepting a job in the state.
According to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, many teachers opt to pursue this credential, regardless of whether or not their state mandates it. Currently, about 52% of public school and 38% of private school educators hold a master's degree or higher.
