K-12 education stands for education from kindergarten through twelfth grade, usually in an elementary school, middle school/junior high or high school setting. The most common degrees for starting out in the field of K-12 education are the Bachelor of Education (BEd) or the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in education, associate degrees in education are available if you wish to work as a teacher's aide.
In a bachelor's program, you will typically choose a specialty based on the age level of children you wish to teach. If your preferred age level is preK, kindergarten or first grade, you could specialize in early childhood education. If you'd like to teach at any level between first and sixth grade, a degree in elementary education could be for you. If you prefer to work with middle or high school age children, you may specialize in a subject area such as science or mathematics. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, you should be able to find work in a private school, but if you prefer to work in the public school system you'll need to check with your state to make sure you fulfill the necessary conditions for teacher certification such as passing the Praxis exams.
If you'd like to gain more expertise in a particular area of specialization, you may wish to earn a Master of Education (MEd) or an MA or MS in education or a related field. With a master's degree you could focus on areas such as reading and literacy, or health education, or you could position yourself for a job in educational administration. Even if you decide to stay in the classroom, a master's degree will usually earn you a higher rate of pay, at least in the public school system.





