Classroom and Behavior Management Coursework in Early Childhood and Elementary Teacher Preparation Programs

Preparing early childhood and elementary general education educators to teach preschool through elementary in effective behavior and classroom management remains a challenge for colleges and universities across the United States. The current exploratory study examined teacher preparation programs in early childhood and elementary education to determine how many require a behavior management course. A total of 52 syllabi of Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited programs were analyzed using the CEEDAR Center Innovation Configuration rubric to determine the level of preparation received. Findings and suggestions for teacher preparation programs will be discussed.