The J-1 Teach program is not just for K-12 teachers. Is your school looking for preschool teachers, or are you a teacher applying for preschool positions? Read more below to understand the rules and regulations for pursuing a J-1 Teach Visa.

Can J-1 Teachers teach preschool?

Yes! The federal regulations for the J-1 Visa do allow participating teachers to teach preschool/pre-kindergarten classes, but only under certain circumstances. It’s important to note that the Teacher category of the J-1 Visa allows teaching full-time in accredited primary and secondary schools (K-12), including certain pre-kindergarten positions. The key point is that host schools must be “accredited primary” schools.

What kind of schools can host J-1 Teachers as preschool teachers?

Under the terms of the J-1 Visa, “accredited primary” schools do not include childcare or daycare facilities, even if they offer pre-k or kindergarten.  An accredited primary school would be a public or private elementary school that provides pre-K and above. The school would need to be accredited by an independent agency as a primary school or by the state as part of the K-12 school system. So, childcare licensing cannot serve as an accreditation for the program, and birth-pre-K only facilities cannot take advantage of the program.

Are there restrictions on the type of position they can hold?

J-1 Teachers are allowed to teach pre-kindergarten only when teaching in a “language immersion program offered by an accredited school having sustained and enriched instruction, in a language not native to the majority of the student population, that occurs for at least fifty percent of the school day”.  Many schools now offer dual language immersion programs throughout elementary and middle school. J-1 programs can be a perfect asset for these schools. They would allow the placement of J-1 teachers in a pre-kindergarten classroom that follows the immersion model of having at least 50% of classes taught in a non-native language. Teachers above pre-K can teach in non-immersion classes as regular elementary teachers or in other immersion models, where students learn most of the time in their native language.

Learn more about how Cultural Vistas can sponsor the J-1 Visa for teaching pre-K immersion and other K-12 positions here.