Free community college for everyone? We can all be Aric Hall!

[SwaggyP]

In California you only need an AA to teach Early Childhood Education (Pre-School). If you have an AA in Child Development, you can get the California Child Development permit from the state. Getting a BA in that field won't do much to improve pay because it's pretty low and whether you have a BA or AA you get the same teaching permit. To be a regular Elementary teacher is a whole different thing though and requires a BA with heavy duty credential work done. I almost major Child Development as a returning student. In fact I cancelled out my classes two weeks back as I saw it really wouldn't lead me anywhere. In Nevada to be a substitute teacher you only need an AA degree in anything but can't sub teach with anything lower than an AA/AS. In California it's a BA to sub teach. So some careers you only need an AA and a BA isn't required or isn't worth the added costs. If you want to be an office manager of a school you really only need an AA in something office like. Business Admin, Admin Assistant. The pay is fair, but not great. But a lot of married women work those positions so they have two incomes coming in.

Precisely what I mean when saying CC serves a unique purpose. AA in Early Childhood Education and degrees of that sort are exactly what CC's should excel at; it is worthwhile and specialized enough that if one attains the credential, they can attain a job and if they choose, make a career out of it without the need for even higher education. In contrast, the vast majority of students in CC choose degree programs which will ultimately require the 4 year pedigree to achieve optimal results (career opportunities / higher wages / jobs in their field of study).