NCTQ Teacher Prep Review

Posted by National Council on Teacher Quality on June 30, 2014

Teacher prep nationwide

The latest review from the National Council on Teacher Quality of teacher-preparation programs finds that of 1,668 programs in 836 institutions, only 26 elementary and 81 secondary programs got its top ranking. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia lack a top program in either elementary or secondary education. Among the top programs, 68 are housed in public institutions that offer opportunity to enter the profession without overloading on debt. The report also notes the list is dominated by institutions not traditionally considered elite. Elementary programs continue to be far weaker than secondary, with 1.7 times as many elementary as secondary programs found to be failing. Their poorer performance speaks to the specialized training elementary teachers need, and its continuing neglect. Moreover, 23 states lack even a single program that offers math preparation resembling practices of high-performing nations. Nearly half (47 percent) fail to ensure teacher candidates are capable STEM instructors. Three out of four programs don’t insist applicants are in the top half of the college-going population. Student teaching is the least-met standard, particularly around ensuring student teachers are placed with effective mentors. The most promising sign of progress is in training around managing classrooms. The report deems Dallas Baptist University (TX) the top elementary program, Western Governors University (UT) the top secondary program.

http://www.nctq.org/dmsView/Teacher_Prep_Review_2014_executive_summary