Maine Education and Teaching Overview

According to the State Education Data Profiles published by the National Center for Education Statistics, Maine schools had 193,986 students and 16,826 teachers during the 2006-2007 school year. Thus, the student to teacher ratio for that year was 11.5:1, significantly lower than then the national average student to teacher ratio of 15.5:1. This exceptional student to teacher ratio is likely a contributing factor to the superior achievement of Maine students on 2005 math, reading and writing assessments, as compared to students across the nation.


Maine Teacher Requirements

The Maine legislature has recently approved an increase in the base salary for educators teaching in Maine and incentive programs to promote national certification for an increasing number of Maine teachers, showing that Maine has a renewed interest in teacher recruitment and retention. Incentives are also in place for teachers who are highly qualified, or who complete advanced degrees, and there are growing opportunities for teachers qualified to teach English as a second language.

Overall, educators considering teaching in Maine can expect expanding job opportunities and opportunities for career advancement. Maine is also likely on the brink of increasing compensation for teachers, which makes teaching in Maine even more appealing.

Maine Teacher Requirements

In the future, teaching in Maine can mean job security and a sense of accomplishment for those who choose to enter a teaching career. Over the last few months, presidential interest in our public school systems has resulted in glimpses into the future of education within Maine and the country as a whole.

Past mistakes in public education has left the industry with teacher shortages from coast-to-coast today as people entered college and found nothing desirable about the world of teaching to entice them into deciding upon a career in education. Now, things are different. Programs are in place to help those entering the field of education or already teaching in Maine to achieve a very satisfying lifestyle with a career in teaching.

Maine, and most other states, all have the same problem with public interest in education not supplying the funding that school districts need to thrive on. However, with presidential interest in education creating public interest in education, new sources of funding appear to be on the horizon to create beneficial help for educational needs.

For those teaching in Maine, programs are in place now to address poverty-based schools that have problems keeping teachers. As these programs mature, better classroom and working conditions will mesh with new funding programs to create a special environment for classroom learning in Maine. For people interested in a career of teaching, Maine is among the top states to be watching for very desirable future employment options.

Online Colleges Offering Education and Teaching Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Programs Offered  
  • Master of Arts in Teaching
  • Master of Arts in Teaching with Teaching Credential
Accreditation  

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of The North Central Association,www.ncahlc.org; 312-263-0456.

Accreditation  

The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. Currently, WGU’s "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such leading institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges. WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU is the first online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU’s Health Informatics program is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). WGU’s Nursing programs are CCNE accredited.

Campus Colleges Offering Education and Teaching Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Programs Offered  
  • Master of Arts in Teaching
  • Master of Arts in Teaching with Teaching Credential
Accreditation  

Kaplan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

McCann School of Business & Technology is accredited to award occupational associate degrees and certification diplomas by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education,.

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Teaching Salaries
Elementary School Teacher
$40,584
High School Teaching
$42,802
Education Admin for Elementary School
$65,372
School Principal
$82,696
 Source: PayScale.com
 * Based on 5 years experience