It varies...

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It varies...
By Debbie Ellis

Nuala:
The American school system can be confusing. While the United States has one Federal government, each of our 50 states also has its own state government, with varying rules and regulations. Each state sets up
its own State Board of Education, which is run according to laws and regulations passed by that state's legislature. Each state's teaching requirements vary from each other in sometimes subtle and sometimes drastic ways.
That being said, there is good news. While each state is different from each other, there does exist some similarity across the nation in grouping ages and grades

for each educational level. In the most general terms, our system can be said to be divided as follows:

Level Grades Ages
Elementary (Primary) PreKindergarten--6 4--11
Junior High (Middle) 7--9 12-14
High 10--12 15-17
College

Some school districts do not have preschool. Some junior high schools (also known as Middle Schools in some districts) start at grade 6. Some junior high schools are grades 6--7, instead of grades 7--9. Some high schools have only grades 11--12, instead of grades 10--12, while other high schools have grades 9--12. As I said, it varies from state to state and even from school district to school district.

In my state, Mississippi, you would probably be certified to teach grades K--8. I don't know what tests you would have to take to become certified here. I'm not sure whether you would have to take the Praxis I & II, or the NTE, or just what.

Now to the fun part (just kidding). Teacher licensure also varies from state to state. In the state in which I reside, Mississippi, our state board of education uses the Praxis I and the Praxis II tests as the method to state certification. Some other states also use the Praxis Series of tests, but others do not. Some states use their own state-made tests for certification. I live on the border between the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. Louisiana will accept the Praxis I test results and the Principles of Learning and Teaching portion of the Praxis II, but it will not accept my Area test score of the Praxis II. Louisiana has its own testing procedure for content area. I've passed all of the requirements to teach in the state of Mississippi, but if I decide to teach in Louisiana, I will have to take their test in my area, which is Special Education. Confusing, isn't it?

I tried to help another teacher, who lives in Spain, find out how to teach in the United States. From what I was able to find out, it's a lot harder to gain entry to the United States since September 11th. Even for teachers. Hopefully someone who has more knowledge about that aspect of it will write in to let you know exactly how to find out all the details. I wish you the best of luck.

Best wishes,
Debbie Ellis