Better teacher selection and preparation

A new report from the American Institutes of Research distills existing research on teacher preparation programs for successful characteristics, and determines which attributes of teacher candidates contribute to better outcomes. The report divides teacher preparation into the components of selection, coursework, student teaching/clinical preparation, and certification/licensure. While the profession may be too large to select its way into better professional practice by eliminating teacher-school spots, programs should still require an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above and SAT scores in the top third, with candidates screened for tenacity or "grit." Programs must also reach consensus about a standard curriculum that all future teachers must pass in order to have basic content knowledge; this could be reinforced at state-level approval processes for programs. The most compelling evidence from research, according to the report, is the importance of high-quality student teaching, which encompasses preparation length, structure, and mentorship; novice teachers indicate that high-quality, hands-on experience is crucial. The promising clinical preparation model has several variants, which the report outlines. Finally, the report calls for more rigorous, practice-focused licensure assessments so that districts can be certain that any new hire is capable of leading instruction, and parents know that if their child is assigned to a new teacher's class, the quality of instruction is up to acceptable standards. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.