Early Childhood General Education Advanced Standing

This program has the option to begin in the spring.

The Spring 2027 application is currently open.

Application Deadlines

• Applications are reviewed in rounds to ensure you receive a timely decision. 
• You will have five business days after the application deadlines to finish providing any missing required materials. Incomplete applications will be moved to the next round for consideration.
• In some cases, applications submitted after the final deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis. 
• We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. This guarantees the most timely admissions decision and the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

Spring 2027

Admissions Criteria

No prior teaching certification is necessary for this program.

In addition to meeting other admissions requirements, to be eligible for admission to the Early Childhood General Education Advanced Standing program you must:

• Be a lead teacher working with children from birth through second grade in a publicly funded program.
• Have a minimum of three years of teaching experience.

Please review How to Apply for full details on the application process, admissions criteria, and application requirements.

Tuition

At Bank Street, tuition is charged per credit. The Early Childhood General Education Advanced Standing program requires 30 credits for completion. Students enrolled in this program receive a reduction in the cost of tuition by 55%.

This program also awards advanced standing credits for relevant teaching experience further reducing the overall cost of the program. See below and read more on our Tuition page

Financial Aid

The majority of Bank Street students receive some type of financial aid. We strongly recommend applying early and submitting your FAFSA at the time you apply for the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Read more on our Financial Aid page

Our Approach

Our curriculum centers on active, inquiry-driven learning that mirrors how children learn best—through exploration, collaboration, and reflection. We engage you in rigorous study of educational theory, human development, and inclusive practice while you apply that learning immediately in your classroom setting. Through rich dialogue, purposeful assignments, and collaborative projects, you will refine your ability to think critically, teach responsively, and support diverse learners. By the end of the program, you will have deepened your professional judgment, strengthened your reflective capacities, and grown as an educator ready to lead and innovate in early childhood contexts.

Time Commitment

During the academic year, each course typically meets once per week, either from 4:45 PM to 6:45 PM or 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET. Over the summer, classes typically meet twice a week from 5:15 PM to 9:00 PM ET. Depending on your course schedule for a given term, you can expect to dedicate approximately 10 hours per week to program-related study and activities.

Course Plan (30 credits)

Spring Start

Learning Through Experience and Reflection

In this program, you will maintain your current teaching position for your supervised fieldwork, using your own classroom as a living laboratory. You will engage in ongoing cycles of observation, documentation, and planning—developing the skills to study children closely and respond to diverse learning styles. To meet New York State certification requirements, you must gain experience across three bands (Birth–Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1–2), including an under-resourced public or charter setting. Bank Street will work with you to plan short, flexible placements (such as during school breaks) to fulfill these additional requirements without disrupting your full-time job.

Alongside your classroom work, you will meet weekly with a small group of peers in a supportive conference space. This is where you will bring real-world questions and classroom challenges to explore openly with fellow educators. Together, you will reflect on your practice, learn from one another’s perspectives, and build the relationships that build on the foundation of your lifelong professional network.

Advisement and Mentorship

Your fieldwork is anchored by a dedicated Bank Street advisor who provides individualized mentorship through a blend of classroom visits and reflective dialogue. During periodic site visits, your advisor will observe your teaching and offer direct guidance, hands-on modeling, and collaborative feedback to help you refine your daily practice. This sustained, one-on-one support builds your professional confidence and deepens your understanding of child-centered, equitable pedagogy, ensuring you can effectively advocate for and meet the unique needs of every learner in inclusive settings.

Certification

When you successfully complete the program, you will receive a master’s degree and be recommended for New York State certification in Early Childhood Education, Birth – Grade 2, provided you complete all other State certification requirements. Read more on our Certification page

Professional teaching certification from New York State is very portable to other states. To learn more, please visit our Outside of New York disclosure website page.

Careers

After graduation, students secure head teaching positions in public, charter, and independent schools in New York City and beyond with children birth through grade 2.

Students at Bank Street have full access to our robust Career Services, including the CareerConnect job site, opportunities to attend job fairs and workshops, and connections to our alumni network nationwide.