Assessment & Evaluation Degree Programs can be Key to Promotion in Education

Teachers looking for career advancement opportunities often have their eyes on administrative positions. Experience and track record play a role in who gets these opportunities, as does reputation with the current school administration. Beyond that though, certain academic credentials are considered a prerequisite for advancement in many school districts, and could give you an edge in any situation. An online degree can be an effective way for you to acquire the education necessary for advancement.
Online education allows you to structure a flexible academic program around your existing teaching schedule, so you can continue to acquire experience while you also polish your credentials.

Online Degree Programs in Assessment & Evaluation

School districts have different standards, but they frequently require at least a master's degree for administrative positions, and in some cases even for tenure. Therefore, even though you may have a bachelor's degree in education, a master's degree is something you should consider if you want to expand your career advancement possibilities.
Assessment & Evaluation degree programs are a good fit for teachers who want to fulfill the master's requirement, because they cover some of the higher-level tasks that school administrators tackle. Some of the areas covered in Assessment & Evaluation degree programs include:

• Student performance measurement
• Teacher and program performance measurement
• Instruction methods
• Elementary curriculum development
• Secondary curriculum development

Advancement Opportunities

Earning a master's degree and learning some of the degree program topics can help you compete for advancement opportunities into school administration. These can be very rewarding financially; the median salary for elementary and secondary school administrators is just over $80,000 a year.
Some examples of administrative positions include:

• Department head
• Curriculum specialist
• Subject matter advisor
• Assistant principal
• Principal

Be sure any program you choose meets your area's accreditation standards; you may find that an Assessment & Evaluation degree program could open many doors for you in the future.

Richard Barrington is a freelance writer and novelist who previously spent over twenty years as an investment industry executive.