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Subcategory: Teacher Recruitment and Preparation
ARL Student Receives National Honor
Nov 3 2009 - Aggie Town Square
USU graduate student Mark Towner, a science teacher at Granite Park Middle School in Salt Lake City, was chosen from hundreds of applications nationwide to participate as an Amgen-National Science Teachers Association Fellow in the 2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy.
Barberton Science Teacher Selected for Fellowship Program
Nov 3 2009 - The Suburbanite
Four out of the 185 science teachers chosen as Fellows in the 2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy are from Ohio.
Grand Ledger Teacher Honored
Oct 27 2009 - Lansing State Journal
Allison Webster, a second-year science teacher at Grand Ledge High School, was recently selected by the National Science Teachers Association as one of two Michigan science teachers chosen as Fellows in the 2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy.
Floating Science Teachers Inspire Students
Oct 26 2009 - AP Texas News
Northrop Grumman is just one among many companies—Exxon Mobile Corp., Honeywell International Inc., Merck & Co., and Lockheed Martin Corp. to name a few—and government entities, such as the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency, providing hands-on experiences for science teachers in elementary and secondary schools.
Science Students Do Better When Teachers Go Back to School
Oct 26 2009 - Voice of America News
New research indicates that high school science teachers who get actual, hands-on experience doing scientific research become better teachers as measured by their students' test results.
Duncan: 'Revolutionary Change' Needed in Teachers Colleges
Oct 23 2009 - USA Today
The Obama administration is calling for an overhaul of college programs that prepare teachers, saying they are cash cows that do a mediocre job of preparing teachers for the classroom.
Putnam County Teachers Chosen for New Science Teacher Academy
Oct 22 2009 - 13 News WOWK.com
Two Putnam County science teachers have been chosen as Fellows in the 2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. Erika Klose of Winfield Middle School and Maureen Miller of Poca High School were among 185 middle and secondary science teachers selected from hundreds of applicants nationwide.
San Leandro Teacher Selected for National Science Fellowship
Oct 22 2009 - The Daily Review
Samantha Johnson, in her second year of teaching, is participating as a fellow in the National Science Teachers Association's New Science Teacher Academy, which links veteran science educators from throughout the nation to new teachers as resources.
Teaching the Teachers
Oct 21 2009 - National Science Foundation
When science teachers do research in university labs, their students ultimately benefit—and it shows in their state assessments.
Science Teacher Picked for Program
Oct 19 2009 - Deseret News
Salt Lake City middle school teacher Mark Towner has been chosen by the National Science Teachers Association to participate in a yearlong professional development program. Towner is in his second year teaching biology at Granite Park Junior High in Salt Lake City.
Boyd Teacher Enrolls in National Academy
Oct 16 2009 - McKinney Community News & Voices
McKinney Boyd teacher Frederick Wiatrowski is back on the enrollment list. Now he not only spends his days at school teaching class, but takes instruction himself through a program developed by the National Science Teacher Association. His name was checked for pronunciation and off the list alongside 185 others from around the nation when the organization’s 2009 New Teacher Science Academy began.
Homepage
Oct 16 2009 - Palo Alto Daily News
Palo Alto resident Craig Young was recently selected as an Agilent Foundation-NSTA Fellow in the New Science Teacher Academy. Young, a science teacher at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, was chosen from hundreds of applicants from across the country to participate in NSTA’s year-long professional development fellowship program.
Achievements
Oct 13 2009 - The Register-Guard
Corrinn Bruce, a science teacher at Mohawk High School, is one of four Oregon teachers selected by the National Science Teachers Association to be a Fellow in the 2009 New Science Teacher Academy.
Teacher Selected for Science Fellowship
Oct 13 2009 - The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register
Science teacher Jennifer Schwertfeger has been selected for a fellowship program in the National Science Teachers Association. She was selected from hundreds of applicants nationwide and was one of three selected from West Virginia out of 185 who applied to be an Amgen-NSTA Fellow.
Saipan Science Teacher Selected for NSTA Fellowship Program
Oct 9 2009 - Saipan Tribune
Michael Blasberg, a science teacher at Marianas High School in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, was chosen from hundreds of applications to participate as an Amgen-NSTA Fellow in the 2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy.
Two Local Teachers to Attend Science Academy
Oct 8 2009 - Lake Villa Review
Fifteen science teachers from Lake, Cook, Kane, McHenry, and Tazewell Counties will participate in the 2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. Mendralla and Emmons School teacher Melonnie Hartl were two of those 15 teachers chosen to participate in the academy.
A Chance To Teach Beyond the Classroom
Oct 5 2009 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
Twenty-four teachers are working for the federal government this year under the auspices of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, which gives math and science teachers a chance to spend a year working at federal agencies or crafting legislation as Capitol Hill staffers.
Two Area Teachers Picked for Science-Ed Program
Oct 5 2009 - Arizona Daily Star
Two teachers from Southern Arizona have been selected for a science fellowship program. The fellows will participate in a yearlong professional development program designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence, and improve teacher subject knowledge.
Two Area Teachers Picked for Science-Ed Program
Oct 5 2009 - Arizona Daily Star
Two teachers from Southern Arizona have been selected for a science fellowship program. The fellows will participate in a yearlong professional development program designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence, and improve teacher subject knowledge.
Two Area Teachers Picked for Science-Ed Program
Oct 5 2009 - Arizona Daily Star
Two teachers from Southern Arizona have been selected for a science fellowship program. The fellows will participate in a yearlong professional development program designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence, and improve teacher subject knowledge.
Middle School Teacher Receives Award
Sep 28 2009 - South Salt Lake Journal
Mark E. Towner, a biology teacher at Granite Park Junior High School, was one of 185 science teachers selected nationwide to be a Science Teacher Fellow by the National Science Teacher Association for the 2009–2010 school year.
Barris Named Fellow to Science Teacher Academy
Sep 28 2009 - My Soutex
A.C. Jones High School teacher Benjamin Barris was recently notified of his selection as a National Science Teacher Association New Science Teacher Academy Fellow.
Three County Teachers Tapped for Astellas Science Academy
Sep 28 2009 - Lake County News-Sun
Three Lake County science teachers are getting a career boost after being selected to participate in the 2009 New Science Teacher Academy.
Many Teachers Using Summer to Learn
Aug 18 2009 - The Arizona Republic
With technology revolutionizing classrooms, the state creating new regulations for schools, and education generally becoming more complicated, many teachers find they have to work for weeks in the summer just to keep up with changes.
Science Pros Turn to Teaching
Aug 11 2009 - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Temple University's Transition to Teaching program helps prospective teachers combine science smarts and real-world experience with the educational skills needed to teach middle school. The program is part of a national effort to address a shortage of math and science instructors.
Evaluating Teacher Ed
Jul 24 2009 - Inside Higher Ed
Many teachers who have recently entered the field feel prepared for their jobs, but still seek training in crucial areas such as classroom management and teaching non-native English speakers, a new study says.
Report Urges Halt to Extra Pay for Master’s Degrees
Jul 22 2009 - Education Week
States are spending billions in education dollars each year rewarding teachers for earning advanced degrees that show little correlation with improved student achievement, a recent report concludes.
Delta New Site of Teach for America Institute
Jul 15 2009 - Education Week (requires registration)
The Mississippi Delta, a region plagued by high poverty and illiteracy rates, will soon become the site of a Teach For America training institute that will prepare about 500 educators for classrooms across the country.
Governors' Group Urges Higher Educator Standards
May 13 2009 - Education Week
The nation’s governors should promote a higher-quality educator workforce by retooling key leverage points on state and local systems for recruiting, training, and retaining talent, a new report concludes.
Applicants Flock to Teacher Corps for Needy Areas
Dec 8 2008 - The Washington Post (requires free registration)
In its 18th year, Teach for America has emerged as the most popular nonprofit service organization among college seniors in the United States, with 14,181 applications received this year and as many as 23,000 more expected by the end of February—all for fewer than 5,000 teaching spots.
UW Tackles Neglected Realm of Training for Science Professors
Dec 3 2008 - National Science Foundation
U.S. science and engineering students emerge from graduate school exquisitely trained to carry out research. Yet when it comes to the other major activity they'll engage in as professors—teaching—they're usually left to their own devices. That's now beginning to change, thanks to work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Little Impact Seen in Intensive Teacher Induction
Nov 3 2008 - Education Week (requires registration)
After a year of implementation, two intensive teacher-induction programs did not noticeably change teachers' instructional practices, boost rates of teacher retention, or improve student-achievement outcomes, a new study concludes. They did, however, succeed in boosting the time novice teachers spent with mentors to improve their teaching compared with teachers in schools lacking those programs.
Researchers Identify Best Strategies for Supporting New Science Teachers
Sep 16 2008 - ScienceDaily
New research from George Mason University's New Science Teachers' Support Network (NSTSN) has identified the most vital forms of support for new science teachers—providing them with in-classroom support and quality courses in how to teach science.
Virgina OK'd for Educational Services Pilot Program
Aug 7 2008 - Richmond Times Dispatch
Virginia is one of seven states that will be able to offer extra help for its students before moving them out of their schools. The U.S. Department of Education announced a pilot program that allows Virginia and the six other states to provide supplemental services to students—before offering an option to move to a better school—in schools that have not met federal adequate-yearly-progress requirements.
New Faculty Members Say Graduate School Left Them Underprepared
Jul 11 2008 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
Many young faculty members fresh out of graduate school who have been teaching for less than five years feel their graduate educations left them underprepared for faculty positions, according to a recently released survey.
State Puts Emphasis on Science, Math Skills
May 28 2008 - StarTribune.com
Minnesota's latest efforts to bring its students up to speed in science and math are putting a sharper focus on teaching. State Department of Education officials announced the opening of nine regional centers where teams of teachers from throughout the state will be schooled in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics. Teachers will then take the knowledge and teaching strategies they pick up at these Math and Science Teacher Academy regional centers back to the classroom.
Arizona Teacher Shortage: Volunteers Sought
May 21 2008 - Arizona Republic
Arizona's teacher shortage is forcing the state to look at creative ways to put specialized people into classrooms. Beginning this fall, working engineers and scientists will sign on as adjunct teachers in a pilot program. These professionals can teach one class of calculus or algebra daily after 36 hours of teacher training and a background check. Unlike adjunct instructors in universities, they will not get paid.
Texas Higher Education Board Rejects "Creation Science" Degree Proposal
Apr 28 2008 - The Dallas Morning News
A bid by the Dallas-based Institute for Creation Research to train future science teachers--focusing on creationism instead of Darwin's theory of evolution--was flatly rejected by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board members last week. The Texas Higher Education Commissioner said it was clear the school would not adequately prepare its graduates to teach the scientific principles now required in Texas public schools.
Maine Schools Face Shortage of Math, Science Teachers
Apr 28 2008 - Morning Sentinel
Despite a recent increase in teaching candidates, the Maine Department of Education still lists math and science as subjects with teaching shortages. David Connerty-Marin of the education department said Maine's situation simply reflects a national problem.
More Education Majors Drawn to Math and Science
Feb 11 2008 - The Kansas City Star
This spring Kansas State University will graduate more math teachers than anyone there can remember--31 instead of the usual 15. Other universities, including UMKC and the University of Missouri-Columbia, are seeing more math education majors.
Local Schools Facing Shortage of Science, Math Teachers
Jan 28 2008 - Chicago Daily Herald
A single job opening at a suburban school can generate dozens, even hundreds, of applications. Still, even suburban schools can struggle to find teachers with math or science backgrounds. Nationwide, 36 percent of seventh- to 12th-grade public school math teachers and 27 percent of science teachers did not major or minor in their subject area, according to U.S. Department of Education statistics. And even when teachers have extensive math or science training, it can be a challenge to stay abreast of rapidly changing fields. The primary challenge of finding teachers with strong math and science backgrounds is that, proportionately, there aren't many Americans with strong science and math backgrounds. The limited supply of qualified math and science professionals drives demand for them, and drives many of them away from teaching. Simply put, most math and science teachers can make more money doing something other than teaching.
To Draw Top Teachers to Troubled Schools, Foundation Will Offer $30,000 Stipends
Dec 20 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
In an effort to improve teacher education and direct highly qualified teachers to high-poverty and struggling schools, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation has launched a $17 million program. The program will enable future teachers to earn $30,000 stipends to attend graduate school. In return, fellows will agree to teach for three years at high-needs schools. The foundation’s efforts come amid a nationwide push by educators, advocacy groups, and the business community to better prepare teachers, especially in math and science.
Florida Science Standards Rise as it Faces Dearth of Teachers
Dec 3 2007 - St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
As Florida considers new science standards, the state is facing a critical shortage of science teachers. Experts note what good are the new standards if the state does not have high quality educators. The link between teacher quality and student performance is “well substantiated,” noted Gerald Wheeler, NSTA’s executive director. “You can’t teach what you don’t know.” Two Florida universities have acknowledged the problem by announcing a $10 million initiative to help increase the number of math and science teachers.
UT Method of Teaching Teachers is National Model
Nov 5 2007 - Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
After starting 10 years ago, the University of Texas Teacher Training program is revolutionizing how many new math and science teachers will be taught. In the program, students do not major in education, but rather in another field, often in the school’s College of Natural Sciences. Students are given early and continued field experience. Results show 70% of the program’s graduates remain in the classroom five years after they enter the teaching profession, compared with about 50% of teachers nationally.
States Turn to Seniors for Help in Classrooms
Oct 9 2007 - Stateline.org
In an effort to fill teacher shortages and provide extra help in the classroom, states are recruiting retirees to work in schools. States are recruiting the retirees to work as volunteers and salaried employees. Those hired teach students to read, help with classroom activities, and even serve as test proctors. “We need to look at more ways older adults can share the knowledge that can only be gained through experience as we look to develop a better skilled workforce,” observed Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.
With Turnover High, Schools Fight for Teachers
Aug 27 2007 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Across the nation, school districts are facing teacher shortages because educators are retiring and younger teachers are resigning due to frustration with the profession. Recruiters and superintendents explain that “the challenge of putting a qualified teacher in every classroom is heightened in subjects like math and science, and is a particular struggle in high-poverty schools, where the turnover is highest.” To help combat the problem, school districts are offering various incentives to attract teachers.
Teachers Get a Corporate World Lesson
Aug 7 2007 - Insidebayarea.com
Since 1985, Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME) has enabled teachers to gain work experience outside the classroom that can benefit their students. The nonprofit organization has placed thousands of teachers into summer fellowship programs with private companies and research institutions. By being exposed to companies such as Lockheed Martin, IBM, and Google, teachers can gain a practical understanding of the skills required to work in such environments and then develop relevant lessons for their students.
Needed: A Way to Retain Science Teachers
Jul 25 2007 - WTOP Radio (Washington, D.C.)
Experts say more efforts are needed to retain the nation’s science teachers and to provide more rigorous science classes for students. “We’ve got a lot of new teachers that don’t make it past five years in this country,” said Gerry Wheeler, NSTA’s executive director. “Somehow we got to solve that problem.” Meanwhile, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is calling for more demanding science classes in elementary and high schools so the country can be more competitive.
Ohio Competes With Other States to Recruit, Retain Math and Science Students
Jul 10 2007 - Cincinnati Post (Ohio)
Ohio is competing with other states to recruit and retain its brightest students in the fields of math and science. The state’s new budget includes $100 million for scholarships to students who choose to study science, technology, engineering or math at Ohio colleges. Other states like Kentucky and Arizona are considering similar programs.
Grants to Help Colleges Recruit, Retain Teachers
Jul 2 2007 - Tallahassee Democrat (Florida)
In an effort to boost the number of teachers in the state, Florida State University has applied for a grant from the National Math and Science Initiative. Funded with a $125 million gift from ExxonMobil, this program will enable 29 colleges and universities across the nation to have assistance in recruiting, retaining, and training students to become math, science, and computer science teachers. The first round of grants will be awarded in October.
Strategies Needed to Attract, Retain STEM Teachers
Jun 26 2007 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
The U.S. shortage of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers threatens the country's ability to compete in a global economy, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. "There isn't a shortage of teachers in this country; there is a shortage of people who are willing to work for too little salary and in poor working conditions," said Linda Darling-Hammond, a Stanford University School of Education professor.
Schools Plan for Teacher Shortages
Jun 24 2007 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
School systems across the country are facing a growing scarcity of qualified recruits since baby boomers are retiring and the No Child Left Behind Act is raising standards for new teachers. “It’s not that you don’t have some terrifically talented people going into teaching. You do,” observed Richard J. Murnane, an economist at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. “The issue is that you don’t have enough. And many are the most likely to leave teaching, because they have lots of other opportunities.”
Teaching Program Strives for Educational Equality
Jun 20 2007 - CNN.com
This year, 18,000 of America's top college graduates competed for spots teaching in some of the poorest areas of the United States. Only one in six will be picked for the Teach For America program, which is trying to bring educational equality to struggling school districts. "Our country aspires so admirably to be a place of equal opportunity and yet where you are born still in our country does so much to determine your educational prospects," says Wendy Kopp, the founder of Teach For America. Kopp’s immediate goal is to place the nation's top college graduates in 26 of the nation's poorest public school systems. Kopp’s secondary goal is to expand the organization so it can serve more communities.
Math, Science Majors Encouraged to Become Teachers
Jun 19 2007 - Union-Tribune (San Diego, California)
A new program designed to encourage math and science majors to explore teaching careers in grades K–12 is being investigated by students at the University of California, San Diego. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched California Teach as a way to address what many experts see as a looming crisis in public education. The state does not have enough math and science teachers, and some high schools have been forced to have teachers who majored in a different subject in college. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that 100,000 public school teachers, or one-third of the work force, are expected to retire in the next decade.
School Attracts Lots of Teachers
Jun 7 2007 - Union Leader (New Hampshire)
The opening of a new high school in Bedford, New Hampshire, has drawn applicants for teaching positions from across that state and the country, according to figures provided to the New Hampshire Union Leader. So far, 30 applicants for the 45 openings have been approved by the school board. New Hampshire residents account for about two-thirds of them, while others have come from surrounding New England states, and as far away as North Carolina and Washington.
'Grow Your Own' Teachers
Jun 5 2007 - Baltimore Sun (Requires free registration)
A Maryland school district is recruiting local students to teach in the classroom by offering them college scholarships. The scholarship program is designed to help meet the growing need for teachers in hard to fill areas such as science, math, and special education, as well as federal requirements to staff every classroom with “highly qualified” teachers. Similar programs are also taking place in Illinois, Florida, and Colorado.
Call to Duty
May 18 2007 - Teacher Magazine
Since 1994, about 10,000 former and active service members have come to U.S. math, science, and special education classrooms via the federal Troops to Teachers program, although participation has recently decreased.
Wanted: Teachers
Apr 20 2007 - Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana)
As the year winds down, educators in New Orleans are plunging into recruiting the roughly 650 new teachers needed to work in a system that intends to open at least 20 new public schools in the fall, and expects a wave of new students returning from post-Katrina exile. Officials are tapping national and local job fairs across the South and Midwest, holding their own fairs, posting vacancies on education websites and relying on nonprofits to bring in teachers, especially in math, science, and special education, at a time when a teacher shortage has schools scrambling nationwide.
Lawmakers Weigh Raises for Some Teachers
Mar 20 2007 - Sun-News (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
Math and science teachers are such hot commodities these days that legislators are considering offering them extra pay to fill North Carolina’s classrooms. The state has a spotty history with offering extra money to teachers in demand, but influential supporters want to try again. However, not everyone is sold on the idea of increasing salaries for hard to fill jobs.
Opinion: Will D.C. Follow?
Mar 12 2007 - Dallas Morning News (Requires free registration)
Science educators can learn about the UTeach program in this article. UTeach is an initiative that encourages aspiring teachers to earn a degree in math or science. In return, the university ensures graduates receive the “how-tos” of teaching.
Retired Troops Take on New Assignments as Teachers
Feb 8 2007 - The Tennessean (Nashville)
National studies have lamented the lack of male teachers in early grades, especially as role models in schools with high poverty rates. Tennessee reports that only 22% of the state's 70,900 licensed school employees are male. That's on par with figures from the National Education Association that estimate men make up only 24.9% of the country's three million teachers. The Troops to Teachers program helps fill that gap: More than 80% of participants are men.
Teach Math or Make Money With It?
Feb 6 2007 - News & Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Education leaders in both North Carolina and South Carolina are looking for ways to entice undergraduates and career-changers with math and science skills to consider teaching. Tactics include scholarships, signing bonuses, and efforts to streamline the teacher-licensing path.
Laura Bush Urges Educators to Teach in Gulf Coast States
Jan 11 2007 - Fox News
First Lady Laura Bush is urging educators from around the country to teach in the hurricane–ravaged Gulf Coast states, saying that the reopening of schools is vital to the region's recovery.
Reshaping How Elementary Schools Teach Science
Dec 11 2006 - Providence Journal (Rhode Island)
At a time when colleges are looking for better ways to train prospective teachers and school systems are striving to improve math and science education, a research team at the University of Rhode Island is pursuing both of these goals. The school has launched a five–year study backed by a $2.25 million grant from the National Science Foundation that explores the skills teachers need to effectively teach hands–on science.
School Chiefs Urge Cash Lure for Math and Science Teachers
Nov 13 2006 - Boston Globe (Requires free registration)
Forty-eight school superintendents across Massachusetts are calling for cash incentives to attract math and science teachers, a new effort to compete with higher–paying private businesses that would change the way teachers are paid. The superintendents say they want to offer math and science teachers higher pay for mentoring other teachers, accepting extra duties, and other unspecified “professional incentives.”
Education Task Force Formed
Nov 7 2006 - Herald-Leader (Lexington, Kentucky)
University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd, Jr., will head a state task force that will try to find ways for Kentucky to overcome a shortage of teachers and professionals in science, math, engineering, and technology. The goal of the task force, whose members have not been announced, will be to create a “statewide strategic goal for how we increase math and science production” at Kentucky’s colleges and universities, said Todd. The group is expected to offer its recommendations by March 2007.
Breaking Down the Ivory Tower
Oct 31 2006 - Washington Post (Requires free registration)
This should be a shining moment for education schools. Never has the nation paid so much attention to improving the quality of teaching. Yet the institutions that produce teachers have never faced so much criticism.
Cal. Law Blocks Transfer of 'Lemon' Teachers
Oct 13 2006 - Stateline.org
In a move watched by educators across the nation, California is curbing preferential hiring treatment for teachers who transfer from job to job within a school district in what critics call "the dance of the lemons." The Democratic–controlled legislature adopted the change to help principals at lower–performing schools, over the opposition of powerful teacher unions.
Teacher Training is Chaotic, Study Says
Sep 19 2006 - CNN.com
Aspiring teachers emerge from college woefully unprepared for their jobs, according to a new study that depicts most teacher education programs as deeply flawed. Problems with such programs include low admission standards, disengaged college faculty, insufficient classroom practice, and poor oversight. The report comes as public schools are under federal orders to have a qualified teacher for every class.
Students Not Only Ones Returning to Class
Aug 30 2006 - The Globe and Mail (Canada)
Several residents in Toronto, Canada, are leaving lucrative careers to become teachers. Nearly 10,500 new teachers have been certified in Ontario so far this year. Canadians who have made the switch say the change has enabled them to spend more time with family and pursue “something more meaningful than profit margins and quarterly reports.”
In Schools Across U.S., the Melting Pot Overflows
Aug 27 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Some 55 million youngsters are enrolling for classes in the nation’s schools this fall, making this the largest group of students in America’s history and, in ethnic terms, the most dazzlingly diverse since waves of European immigrants washed through the public schools a century ago. The increase in students is causing a surge in classroom construction and forcing thousands of school districts to hire additional qualified teachers. But some districts are having trouble finding enough educators.
Qualified Teachers are in Short Supply
Aug 22 2006 - Seattle Times
With some 200,000 vacancies, states and school districts nationwide are wooing prospective teachers with various incentives, such as laptop computers, gym memberships, and help with housing costs. Areas having the most challenging time this year include the Midwest, the Southeast, and California. Special education, math, science, and bilingual teachers are the hardest to find. Although it is a challenge to recruit teachers, observers say the real problem is retaining them.
Uncle Sam Wants Teachers
Aug 8 2006 - Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota)
A federal Education Department and Department of Defense program designed to recruit military men and women into the classroom is gaining popularity in Minnesota. Troops to Teachers benefits schools because many of its teachers are hard to find minorities and males, and many teach high-demand specialties such as math, science, and special education. Military personnel who enter the program receive financial incentives, such as $5,000 for teaching at least three years in a public school.
Trainee Teacher Failures Revealed
Aug 2 2006 - BBC News
More than one in seven college students training to become a secondary school teacher in England are failing to complete their coursework, according to a study by the Training and Development Agency (TDA) for Schools. The report also found a decrease in the number of qualified teachers securing employment six months after graduation. However, the report noted the number of new math teachers continues to rise. “We still need to work hard to help providers find more strong candidates in math and science and the TDA will continue to campaign vigorously to remind people with degrees and experience in those areas that teaching is intellectually stimulating, exciting, and a job in which no two days are the same,” said Michael Day, the TDA’s executive director.
A Costly Lesson in Supply and Demand
Jul 17 2006 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
School officials in Los Angeles are offering several incentives to attract and retain math and science teachers in an effort to boost students’ test scores in those subjects. New teachers who are fully credentialed in math or science and educators in those fields who transfer to low-performing schools will be awarded a $5,000 recruitment bonus. The school district will give one-time $5,000 bonuses to teachers who stay in their jobs for three years through the 2008–2009 school year. Funding to encourage teachers to obtain credentials and providing a mentor for new teachers at some high schools is also part of the incentive package.
New Teachers Will Have to Pass Test
Jun 16 2006 - Des Moines Register (Iowa)
Iowa is one of three states that have yet to adopt a standardized test for teachers that covers various subjects including science. But that will soon change. Beginning in 2007, all new incoming elementary educators in Iowa will have to take a standardized test to receive a teaching license. The move comes after officials from the U.S. Department of Education threatened to withhold millions of dollars in grants because the state’s licensing system did not include a content-based test.
Out-of-State Educators Want Jobs Near Beach
Jun 8 2006 - Miami Herald (Requires free registration)
Florida school officials are hoping to find more than 30,000 teachers this summer to come work in a state filled with challenges. Florida ranks among the lowest in teacher salaries, has a rising cost of living, and a reputation for being hammered by hurricanes. The state is facing a teacher shortage because of record growth, a constitutional requirement to reduce class sizes, and an exodus of teachers.
Extra Pay Might Fill Teaching Jobs
May 23 2006 - News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
A North Carolina school superintendent has pushed through a plan to pay teachers differently, depending on what and where they teach. Education leaders are hoping the effort will help attract teachers to struggling schools and hard-to-staff subjects such as math and science. School leaders note that salaries for teachers need to be more competitive, especially for math and science graduates who can make better money elsewhere.
Teachers Learn Dated Methods
May 22 2006 - USA Today
Most U.S. undergraduate teacher education programs give prospective teachers a poor foundation in reading instruction, according to a new study by a nonprofit group that is working to reform the nation's teacher education system. Released by the National Council on Teacher Quality, the report examined coursework and textbooks used at 72 leading education colleges and found that most schools use what the council considers “outdated, discredited approaches to teaching reading, especially for underprivileged children.” A spokeswoman for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education noted that education schools are adopting new approaches, but that such changes take time to affect what is taught to young teachers.
Teachers in Paradise?
May 1 2006 - Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
Florida public schools are in need of 32,000 new teachers this fall. In central Florida, most newcomers who teach will come from other places like New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Puerto Rico. Newcomers are often lured to Florida because of the state’s warm climate. But some educators find unexpected challenges such as low salaries, high housing costs, and language barriers.
Teachers to Get 'House' Money
Apr 19 2006 - New York Post
In an effort to attract experienced teachers to teach subjects that can be hard to staff, New York City plans to offer housing incentives to new recruits. Under the plan, teachers certified in math, science, and special education with two years of experience would receive $5,000 up front and $400 a month for two years in exchange for a three year commitment to teach in a public middle or high school. The incentive come on the heels of other teacher housing incentive programs across the country, including one in Santa Clara, California, where the school district has built a low-rent apartment complex specifically for new teachers.
Skills Tests for Teachers Miss Mark, Studies Find
Apr 9 2006 - USA Today
A pair of long-term studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association challenge longstanding policies in 48 states that require teachers to pass standardized exams to get jobs. The new research suggests the skills tests that most public school teachers must pass to get a job are poor predictors of whether they'll actually be good teachers, and in some cases, may even keep good ones from entering the classroom.
Borrowed Brains Could Lead the Class
Feb 28 2006 - Philadelphia Inquirer (Requires free registration)
The Bush administration has proposed a new strategy to help hire enough highly qualified people to teach math and science. The Adjunct Teacher Corps project would enable scientists and engineers to leave their jobs for a few hours a week or take a leave of absence to teach in high school classrooms. Congress would have to approve the plan. Proponents say adjuncts would help alleviate the teacher shortage while also boosting the math and science skills that students will need to compete in a global workforce. Critics doubt the program because it may not give math and science professionals enough training to become teachers.
Schools Face Shortage of Male Teachers
Feb 14 2006 - The Korea Times
Four out of five teachers recruited for middle and high schools in Korea this year are women. The female dominance is expected to continue due to a shortage of male teachers at secondary and primary schools. Officials with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development say the high number of female teachers can be attributed to a large female student population preparing for teacher qualification exams after graduating from college. Education colleges, however, are expected to maintain a gender-balanced number of students.
Push for Math Teachers Looks Back to Sputnik
Jan 31 2006 - MSNBC.com
Business and science groups are reviving images of the Cold War space race in an effort to persuade lawmakers to spend millions to recruit and train high-caliber math teachers. The groups argue that just as a stronger focus on math helped the United States top the Soviet Sputnik launch by putting a man on the moon, the country needs to improve math education to win an economic race with China and India, and a national security race against terrorism. But the call could be a hard sell for lawmakers in the nation’s capital.
Bill Would Boost Pay for Math, Science Teachers
Jan 31 2006 - The Idaho Statesman
In an effort to attract more candidates for math and science teaching jobs, an Idaho lawmaker has introduced a bill to boost salaries for these positions. Sen. John Goedde said the measure would cost the state about $2.8 million annually. All secondary teachers spending a majority of their time teaching math or science would be eligible. School districts negotiate their contracts with their local teachers’ unions. It would be up to the districts to decide whether to accept the extra money from the state, so the cost might be less, Goedde noted.
Gap in Math and Science Teaching
Jan 27 2006 - BBC News
A new study by the National Foundation for Educational Research into the teaching of math and science reveals problems with staff recruitment. The study found one in four math teachers in England is not a specialist in their field. Science teachers were more likely to be specialists than math teachers, with only 8% seen as non-specialists compared to 24% of math teachers. Shortages of highly qualified math and science teachers were worst in schools with low GCSE scores and those serving the poorest children.
High Fliers 'Want To Be Teachers'
Jan 25 2006 - BBC News
A new poll shows that one in five new teachers left a managerial position to work with students and one in 10 is aiming to be a head or deputy. Over a third of new math teachers and 29% of science teachers had resigned from a managerial post, according to The Training and Development Agency for Schools. The career switchers come from various professions. Twenty-one percent of new math teachers had an engineering background, 25% of science teachers were former pharmacists or scientists, according to the poll.
Governor Offers Tools to Recruit Teachers
Jan 23 2006 - Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
Gov. Jeb Bush wants to boost bonuses for teachers who come to Florida, improve programs to defray their college expenses, and buy every classroom teacher in the state a new laptop computer. The effort is designed to fill the nearly 32,000 teaching jobs the state estimates will be open for the coming school year. The governor also hopes to make a pitch for pay-for-performance plans for teachers, a controversial issue nationwide. Nationally, 31 states offer some form of financial incentives to lure teachers to their schools, according to the Education Commission of the States.
Teacher Shortage Likely to Hit Within 10 Years
Dec 8 2005 - Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, California)
A new study shows about a third of California teachers are expected to retire within the next decade, leaving a shortage of 100,000 educators, just as the state’s colleges see a drop in the number of students entering teacher-training programs. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched California Teach, a plan to add 1,000 new science and math teachers a year to classrooms. U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) introduced similar federal legislation this week. While those programs are expected to boost the number of teachers in math and science, California also needs to address the uneven distribution of its most qualified teachers, according to the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning, who conducted the study.
Turning Students Into Tech Teachers
Nov 20 2005 - San Diego Union-Tribune
Instead of joining the chorus of experts worrying about America’s declining stature in math and science, Joe Keating has gone shopping. Keating, an education professor at California State University, San Marcos, is recruiting math and science majors from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and bringing them to his school. Keating’s goal is to entice Rochester’s upperclassmen and recent graduates into teaching careers in California schools, especially in high poverty areas. Students who accept Keating’s offers will receive reduced tuition and housing assistance.
Schools Want Male Teachers
Nov 16 2005 - Xinhuanet.com
China is facing a similar trend experienced in the United States when it comes to the teaching profession. The country has a shortage of male teachers at the primary and middle school levels due to social prejudice and low pay, according to an analysis by The Hebei Daily. Education expert Cheng Jun, who contends the lack of male role models can cause children to suffer "character problems," urges China to recruit more males into education.
Booming Vegas Searches Far and Wide for Teachers
Oct 23 2005 - Seattle Times
Teachers looking for a job might want to check out Las Vegas’ Clark County School District. With 12 new schools opening this year, and at least 138 more needed in coming years for a student population expected to mushroom to a minimum of 528,000 by 2018, Las Vegas has put the word out with advertisements across the United States and in several other countries in an effort to hire teachers.
N.C. Officials Hope to See More Teachers from Katrina States
Sep 26 2005 - News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
North Carolina officials hope to help more teachers from the Gulf Coast who lost their jobs as a result of Hurricane Katrina. So far, 10 people have taken advantage of the state’s changes in hiring teachers from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Teachers who were displaced by the storm and want to teach in North Carolina need only to fill out a one-page application explaining where they were licensed and in what subject. Applicants will also be excused from paying the state’s $85 application fee.
IBM to Encourage Employees to Become Math and Science Teachers
Sep 16 2005 - Boston Herald
In an effort to stem worries that the United States is losing its competitive edge, International Business Machines Corp., has announced a new program to encourage its employees to become math and science teachers. A maximum of 100 employees will be eligible for the program’s trial phase. IBM expects older workers nearing retirement to be the most likely candidates. Workers will have to obtain approval from their managers to participate. If selected, employees would be allowed to take a leave of absence from the company, which includes full benefits and up to half their salary, depending on length of service. Employees could also receive up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursements and stipends while they seek teaching credentials and begin student teaching.
Forced Out By Storm, Teachers Seek News of Job Openings, Pay
Sep 14 2005 - Education Week (Requires free registration)
Thousands of displaced teachers from Louisiana and Mississippi are struggling to put their lives back together, after Hurricane Katrina damaged or destroyed schools in August. Teachers are awaiting news of jobs and paychecks. Neighboring states such as Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have created provisional teaching licenses or held job fairs to recruit displaced teachers. The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers have set up phone lines for their members to call for information about their school districts and advice on union benefits, such as supplemental health insurance, loans, and disaster aid.
Can Teachers Measure Up?
Sep 12 2005 - U.S. News & World Report
Sharp young teachers are in a seller’s market these days, and not just because of shortages plaguing many parts of the country. The No Child Left Behind Act requires all teachers of core academic classes to be high qualified in their subject area by the end of the 2005–2006 school year. But critics claim the law’s accountability rules pose a challenge for how veteran educators should be deemed highly qualified, noting “state rules are so filled with loopholes that they are doing little to ensure that veterans really have what it takes.”
Commission Urges Comprehensive Induction Programs
Aug 31 2005 - Education Week (Requires free registration)
Although comprehensive induction programs are common in countries such as New Zealand, Japan, and France, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future is calling on states, districts, and higher education institutions to offer formal teacher induction programs that last for years, and offer more than just individual mentoring. Commission officials say the purpose of induction needs to be more clearly defined. The organization wants to see more comprehensive programs that bring new teachers into the field, in addition to helping them work in their classrooms.
Schools Aim to Reverse Lack of Male Teachers
Jul 20 2005 - Chicago Tribune
As a new school year approaches, school districts, education groups and universities are exploring strategies to recruit more men into the teaching profession. The proportion of men in the teaching field is at its lowest level in 40 years, according to the National Education Association. Schools and education groups hope that recruiting male teachers into the teaching profession will enable more male role models to be in the classroom and diversify the labor pool of dedicated teachers.
More Than Money Needed to Retain, Attract Quality Teachers
Jul 17 2005 - Boston Globe
Although higher salaries and other financial incentives are key in recruiting good teachers, the nation’s governors have been informed more can be done to prevent educators from leaving the classroom. Professional development, mentoring, finding ways to boost confidence in teachers, and making changes to the school day schedule to allow more contact with colleagues are just as critical in retaining teachers, according to experts.
Shortage of Teachers Forces Global Search
Jun 16 2005 - The Washington Times
In an effort to combat a short supply of U.S. teachers, school officials are looking abroad to hire educators. Public school officials in Loudoun County, Virginia, have hired 55 teachers from 14 countries. In Washington County, Maryland, school officials plan to employ as many as 10 foreign teachers next fall. Observers note that colleges and universities are not producing enough teachers to meet state needs. However, one school official explains foreign-teaching hires meet a critical need while providing a cultural exchange opportunity.
Alternative-Credentialing Group Adds General Science and Biology
Jun 8 2005 - Education Week
The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence is accepting applications for candidates interested in obtaining certification to teach general science or biology. The effort is part of an initiative to be included in the group’s Passport to Teaching program. This program offers teacher credentials in elementary education, English, and math. Candidates for the science credentials will have to complete a five-step process, which will include taking subject matter and teaching-knowledge tests to obtain certification.
Paving the Way for Teaching
Jun 6 2005 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Although there are similar district and state programs that develop high school students for teaching careers, none offer early contracts like the new initiative started by a California school district. The Los Angeles Unified School District’s new teacher recruiting program offers conditional teaching contracts to 78 graduating high school seniors. The students are guaranteed a job with the school district if they begin college in the fall, maintain a 2.7 grade point average, and receive teaching credentials or an equivalent by July 2011.
Major Push to Mint Math, Science Teachers
Jun 1 2005 - San Francisco Chronicle
In an effort to overcome a shortage of trained and credentialed math and science educators, California’s public universities plan to double the number of teachers they graduate in these fields. Both the University of California and California State University systems, which together graduate about 1,000 math and science teachers, will use a combination of incentives to reach their goal of 2,500 teachers in four years. Among the incentives will be waiving the repayment of $19,000 in loans for some students. The new teachers will also be offered summer internships at private companies as a way to stay connected with the business world and what they are teaching.
Panel Urges New Testing for Teachers
May 25 2005 - Education Week
A new report says Congress should pay for the development of a national teacher test, using performance to judge accomplishment. The results of the test should be integrated into state licensing requirements. The study calls on federal and state policymakers to embrace regulations aimed at raising teacher education standards while finding money to help expand the number of people training for and succeeding in teaching as a career. Prepared by a panel of the National Academy of Education, A Good Teacher in Every Classroom follows a book published earlier this year by the academy’s panel that explains the research basis for the group’s conclusions.
For Women in Sciences, Slow Progress in Academia
Apr 15 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
It’s been 12 years since Nancy Hopkins, a senior professor of molecular biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was crawling around the floor of her laboratory with a tape measure, intent on proving to a male administrator that she had less lab space than her male counterparts. The administrator, however, ignored Hopkins data and refused to give her the additional lab space. Women in science and math have made gains since that time. But experts note their overall progress at many of the nation’s top research universities has been slow, the gains uneven and fragile.
Needed in Class: A Few Good Men
Mar 15 2005 - Christian Science Monitor
Experts say more male teachers are needed in the nation’s classrooms. Twenty-one percent of America’s three million teachers are men, according to the National Education Association (NEA). Organizations such as the NEA and MenTeach are making strides in addressing the male teacher shortage. Although increasing the number of male teachers seems like an obvious solution, an NEA senior program analyst notes it’s not enough to train men to be teachers. The real challenge is keeping them in the classroom. “Fifty percent of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years,” observes NEA’s Donald Washington.
How Do The New Teachers Measure Up?
Mar 8 2005 - Christian Science Monitor
Fewer “high-aptitude” women are pursuing careers as elementary and high school teachers, according to a new study. Caroline Hoxby and Andrew Leigh, the study’s authors, suggest that pay is the reason so few high-aptitude women opt to teach. Most experts contend that fewer women are going into teaching than in previous years because females have a variety of appealing career options to choose from. And not all research suggests that today’s teachers are less able than their predecessors. A 2000 Public Agenda study revealed about half of superintendents and principals believe the quality of new teachers has improved in recent years.
Groups Tackle Teacher Quality in Needy Schools
Feb 16 2005 - Education Week
A trio of education organizations plans to tackle the problem of hiring and keeping good teachers in traditionally low-performing schools. The Education Commission of the States, the Educational Testing Service, and Learning Point Associates have formed a partnership titled “The National Partnership for Teaching in At-Risk Schools.” The partnership will focus on developing a website, and a venue for data-gathering, research, and public policy work aimed at providing better-trained teachers for students who often need the most help. Program officials also hope to seek additional partners for the new initiative.
UC Boss Emphasizes Science, Math Needs
Jan 25 2005 - San Diego Union-Tribune
University of California president Robert Dynes says the key to fixing the state’s ailing K–12 school system is to boost efforts to train math and science teachers. Dynes proposes to create an accelerated program that would enable students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree, as well as a credential to teach math or science in five years. But experts note that increasing the number of teachers is only part of the problem. An effort to pair these educators with students who don’t have qualified teachers also needs to be found, according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education's president.
Program Lets Most Learned Teach in Va.
Jan 6 2005 - The Daily Press (Newport News, VA)
Virginia is benefiting from a new arrangement with two other states and the District of Columbia designed to attract the most qualified teachers. More than 130 education graduates received the Meritorious New Teacher Candidate designation last spring. This designation enables teaching graduates to work in Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia without having to pass additional tests to earn teaching licenses in those states and the District. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are also expected to join the effort, according to program officials.
In Florida, a Bid to Expand the Teacher Pool
Jan 5 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor
It’s a challenge that faces school districts nationwide—teacher recruitment. No one has found a magic solution, but officials in the Fort Lauderdale area have responded with an innovative notion called the Urban Teacher Academy Project (UTAP). The program consists of school district officials recruiting teens and offering them everything from mentoring and college tuition to a teaching job after they finish school. Observers note that if the UTAP initiative proves successful, similar programs could be implemented nationwide.
Fresh Challenges in the Old Debate Over Evolution
Dec 7 2004 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
In order to teach evolution in the schools in the current cultural and political environment, educators and scientists are realizing they must educate (or re-educate) the population at large - including future science teachers. About half the students University of Georgia professor David Jackson teaches to become middle school science instructors believe that God created the Earth 6,000 years ago, he says. Some colleagues tell him he shouldn't even bother teaching these students - that future teachers with such beliefs "shouldn't teach." But Jackson says his job to make sure that his students understand evolution, not believe it. Wes McCoy, a science department chair in Georgia, says opinion polls prove that evolution is widely misunderstood. "The parents and school board members I have spoken to who oppose the teaching of evolution seem to have little understanding of what evolution means," McCoy says. "I believe it is my duty ... to discuss with them what we mean by evolution and why it is so vital to teach."
Statewide Partnership Will Focus on New Ways to Prepare Teachers
Oct 22 2004 - Dodge City Daily Globe (Kansas)
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded an $8.7 million partnership grant to Kansas State University and other organizations to develop a new model of teacher preparation to help address the needs of Hispanic American students in the nation’s K–12 classrooms. The teacher preparation model will consist of a recruitment plan, three licensure programs, continued professional development for classroom teachers, and a mentoring component. Two-and four-year colleges, as well as K–12 schools will design and deliver the program.
Paige and College Presidents Meet to Discuss K-12 Teacher Preparation
Oct 8 2004 - ACEnet
Education Secretary Rod Paige, U.S. Department of Education officials, and 42 college and university presidents recently convened to discuss expanding the quantity and quality of K–12 math and science teachers. “Your leadership in bringing this issue (math and science teacher education) to the top of your university’s agenda is critical to the nation’s future,” Paige told attendees at the invitational meeting. The meeting was presented by the Education Department’s Mathematics and Science Initiative and hosted by the American Council on Education.
Recruitment Center Aims to Stem State's Teacher Shortage
Sep 26 2004 - The Tennessean
Science teachers looking for a job can look in Tennessee. The state is need of 15,000 new faces in classrooms over the next decade to teach science and other subjects. State officials are setting aside $500,000 to begin a new teacher recruitment center in an effort to combat the shortage. Officials plan to develop new methods to attract high school and college students to the teaching profession, as well as lure teachers from other states and persuade midlife professionals to switch to the classroom. State officials also plan to focus on providing new educators the skills and support they need.
Drive for Career-Change Teachers
Sep 12 2004 - BBC News
A campaign is under way to attract more college graduates to the teaching profession in England. Mary Doherty of the Teacher Training Agency, a group involved in the campaign, says more graduates need to be recruited, especially to teach math, science, and modern languages in secondary schools. Doherty added the new campaign “shows the fundamental truth about teaching: that working with children brings enjoyment and rewards, every day.”
Tougher 'Teacher Poaching' Rules
Sep 2 2004 - BBC News
Education ministers from 23 Commonwealth nations have signed a protocol discouraging richer countries from poaching teachers from poorer ones. The protocol is aimed at reducing staff shortages in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Last year, England gave work permits to 5,564 teachers from other Commonwealth countries, including 1,492 from South Africa and 523 from Jamaica.
SE States Struggle With Teacher Quality Rules
Aug 2 2004 - Stateline.org
A new study has revealed that southeastern states have reduced their standards for teacher qualifications as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act’s emphasis on subject-specific knowledge. The report by the Southeast Center for Teacher Quality states that such knowledge is important, but that successful teachers need to know how to deal with different students’ learning needs and skill levels. The report also found that rural and urban schools have trouble finding and keeping teachers because they cannot compete with the higher salaries offered by suburban districts.
Colleges Get Flak for Teacher Training
Jun 17 2004 - Stateline.org
A group of governors, state education advisors, and experts says college graduates with education degrees are not prepared for the demands of the teaching world, especially in schools with large populations of poor, minority, and special education students. Eli Broad, founder of the Broad Foundation, recently told governors at an education symposium that “too many teachers wash out of the profession each year due to inadequate preparation.” Experts add that although complaints about teacher training are not new, the issue has gained more attention with the No Child Left Behind Act.
Recruitment Program Helps Meet Need for Math, Science Teachers
May 17 2004 - Fresno Bee (California)
A new effort is in the works to recruit and provide support to qualified math and science majors who choose to earn teaching credentials. The Science and Mathematics Education Center Teacher Education Project has recruited at least 200 students and helped them graduate with majors in math and science, as well as teaching credentials. Approximately half of those graduates are now teaching math and science.
Training Varies for Substitute Teachers
Apr 19 2004 - Indianapolis Star
When it comes to substitute teaching, the requirements vary nationwide, according to this article. Some school districts require just a high school diploma. Half of the states across the country don’t require a college degree, according to Shirley Kirsten, president of the National Substitute Teachers Alliance. Kirsten adds students in America’s schools will spend the equivalent of an entire academic year in classrooms led by substitute teachers before graduating from high school.
Help Wanted: Teachers in Math, Science, and Special Ed
Mar 21 2004 - Chicago Sun Times
Calling all math and science teachers! The Chicago public school system is looking to fill about 1,500 vacant teacher positions as a result of attrition and early retirement. Schools officials hope to hire educators by using such strategies as attracting professionals from other careers and rehiring retired educators. School Chief Arne Duncan noted that despite receiving 9,000 resumes, there is still a need for math, science, and special education teachers.
New Visa Ceiling Called Threat to Teacher Recruitment
Mar 8 2004 - The Washington Post
School districts nationwide say changes to a foreign worker visa program are threatening their ability to recruit and hire teachers from overseas. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced in February it had reached a new limit on issuing visas and no more would be issued until October. The revision has forced several schools to cancel initiatives to recruit teachers from foreign countries since most visas are issued to corporations. In the meantime, school officials say they will have to find new methods for hiring teachers.
Congress Orders Thorough Study of Teacher Education Programs
Mar 3 2004 - Education Week
In an effort to better understand academic content and field experiences provided to prospective educators, Congress is calling for a study on the nation’s teacher education programs. The study will examine required coursework, how reading and math are taught, and to what degree programs are aligned with scientific evidence on the subjects. A spokesman for the Institute of Education Sciences, the arm of the U.S. Department of Education charged with conducting the project, noted the study is intended to be an advisory report on the quality of preparation. The $1.5 million project is expected to take several years to complete.
How Urban Schools Keep Good Teachers at Bay
Oct 28 2003 - The Washington Post
A new study shows applications from promising teaching candidates continue to pour into inner-city school systems nationwide, but that applicants are being ignored or contacted too late to benefit schools. Missed Opportunities: How We Keep High-Quality Teachers Out of Urban Schools, a report by the nonprofit New Teacher Project, concludes inner-city school systems alienate talented applicants because of budget delays, rules that protect existing teaching staff, and slow-moving bureaucracies. Teacher union officials say the report’s findings are exaggerated.
States Vary Widely in Reports of 'Highly Qualified Teachers'
Oct 21 2003 - The Arizona Republic
States are reporting a variety of figures for how many highly qualified teachers they have. Wisconsin, for example, has reported that nearly 99 percent of its classes have highly qualified teachers. Idaho, Arkansas, Connecticut, Minnesota, Indiana, Massachusetts, Utah, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Wyoming reported totals of at least 95 percent. On the low end of the scale are California, Alabama, and Alaska. The No Child Left Behind Act mandates that all teachers of subjects from English to art be highly qualified by the end of the 2005–2006 school year.
Report: Plodding Pace Costs Schools Top Teachers
Sep 15 2003 - CNN
A new report shows urban schools nationwide are losing highly-qualified teaching candidates as a result of dysfunctional personnel departments and sluggish hiring timelines. The findings are based on analyses of job applications at four urban school districts in the Southwest, Midwest, and East, as well as phone and e-mails surveys and focus groups with university faculty, teachers, and others. The report calls for policies to be changed, but urban school districts say that will be a daunting task.
Alternative Teacher-Certification Program Debuts Online
Aug 22 2003 - eSchool News (Requires free registration)
A new online program aimed at helping under-qualified educators and career changers bypass education colleges to become “highly qualified” certified teachers has generated mixed reaction. The Passport to Teaching program requires applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree, complete a background check, pass two tests, and pay a fee. Applicants are not required to complete any coursework or have teaching experience. Critics say the program is a “poor substitute for the rigors of traditional teacher-preparation programs, which often require practice teaching and mentoring before certification.” Proponents describe the program as “interesting,” but note it’s not necessarily a way to ensure effective teaching candidates.
As Shortages Ease, Teachers Find Job-Hunting Tough
Aug 15 2003 - Chicago Sun-Times
Experts who track education employment say the nationwide teacher shortage that once had school districts scrambling to hire enough educators has eased significantly as the economy has weakened. Preliminary results from a survey conducted by the American Association for Employment in Education show the demand for teachers has decreased during the past two years.
Eight Questions on Teacher Preparation: What Does the Research Say?
Jul 30 2003 - Education Commission of the States
Eight Questions on Teacher Preparation: What Does the Research Say?, a new report from the Education Commission of the States, reviews the body of research on teacher preparation. The report attempts to ascertain what evidence the research provides and what its implications are for policy. Click on the above link to more and to access a copy of the report.
Louisville Program Helps Lure Teachers
Jul 22 2003 - Herald-Leader (Lexington, KY)
Kentucky is hoping to attract teaching graduates from elite schools through a new program. Teach Kentucky aims to bring graduates from Yale, Harvard, Vanderbilt, and other schools to teach in high demand areas in Louisville. Participants receive a variety of incentives, including $1,000 cash, 10 free weeks of housing, and access to a network of mentors.
Too Few Good Men
Jul 15 2003 - The Christian Science Monitor
The demand for male teachers continues to grow, but so is the list of reasons why men don’t want to enter the teaching profession. A recent survey shows males eliminate the teaching profession from their list of career choices for several reasons: low pay, low status, stereotypes about teaching students as being a feminine endeavor, and the fear of being accused of sexual abuse. Experts note, however, male teachers can bring “a different perspective to the classroom.”
House Backs Expanded Loan Deal for Teachers
Jul 9 2003 - San Francisco Chronicle
Future science teachers and other educators will now get some help with their college loans, thanks to federal leaders. The House of Representatives has passed a bill to forgive $17,500 in student loans for college students who become teachers in high-need areas. According to Rep. Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican and the bill’s principal sponsor, “there is a 95 percent critical shortage of qualified teachers” in the areas of math, science, and special education.
GOP Bill Aims to Produce Better-Qualified Teachers
Jun 4 2003 - Education Week
Congressional Republicans have unveiled a proposal aimed at producing better-qualified teachers. The Ready to Teach Act of 2003 would set stricter requirements for states and colleges with teacher preparation programs in their reporting of passing rates on certification tests. The bill would also encourage states receiving federal grants to create more flexible routes into teaching.
Colleges Extend On-the-Job Training for Teaching
Jun 3 2003 - Richmond Times-Dispatch (Virginia)
Colleges in Virginia are making changes to teacher-prep programs in an effort to better address student needs. The University of Virginia, for example, is offering student teachers the opportunity to spend an entire semester in the classroom with an experienced educator instead of having students participate in two eight-week practicums. Teacher education experts and student teachers say both “classroom time and practical experience are important for a well-rounded program.”
Charter Certification Lacking?
May 30 2003 - The Detroit News
A new report shows traditional school teachers possess more education than charter school teachers. The study by the Education Policy Center at Michigan State University revealed that more than 50 percent of traditional school teachers had a master’s degree, while less than a quarter of charter school teachers held similar credentials. David Plank, one of the report’s authors, noted charter schools might have difficulty in attracting qualified teachers because salaries and benefits for such educators are typically lower than what traditional schools offer.
New Push to Bring Teachers to Boston
May 16 2003 - The Boston Globe
Educators looking for a job teaching science or math might want to consider moving to Boston. Public school officials in that city have started a new initiative to recruit more math and science educators in an effort to help Boston retain more teachers. Teachers who participate in the program receive a $10,000 stipend to defray living costs and a loan to help them earn a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
Blacks Apply, But Unlikely to Win Certification
May 7 2003 - Education Week
A new study shows African-American teachers are more likely than their white counterparts to apply for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, but are less likely to receive the credential. The study, underwritten by the Department of Education, also revealed that teachers of all races who earn the board’s certification have higher standardized test scores and work in higher performing schools in affluent neighborhoods.
New Teacher Board Parts Ways With ACT
Apr 23 2003 - Education Week
The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) is looking for a new organization to create its teacher assessments. The ABCTE ended its partnership with testing company ACT Inc. in March “based on a difference in opinion” on how teacher tests were being formed, according to ABCTE spokeswoman Kimberly Tulp. ABCTE officials said the board’s first round of exams would be ready this summer. Critics argue, however, the summer deadline is not feasible.
Budget Woes Make Oregon a Hotbed for Teacher 'Poaching'
Apr 16 2003 - CNN
Oregon has become a popular place to recruit teachers, thanks to a series of budget cuts in the state that have resulted in teacher layoffs. School recruiters from around the nation recently convened in Portland to attract Oregon’s teachers to jobs in other states. “We go where they are laying off teachers, wherever we think there is an opportunity,” observed Mark Speck, a Dallas, TX, school recruiter, whose team is also planning trips to Washington state, Colorado, Minnesota, and Tennessee.
Cal State Channel Islands to Expand Credential Programs for Teachers
Mar 31 2003 - Los Angeles Times
Calling all future science and math teachers! California State University’s Channel Islands campus in Camarillo plans to add credential programs next fall for students who want to teach science, math, and other subjects. The effort is designed to meet teacher shortages in academic areas identified by local educators, according to Dan Wakelee, the university’s associate dean of faculty.
Teach For America Wants Districts to Pay Per Teacher
Mar 20 2003 - The Arizona Republic
School districts in Arizona may have to drop the Teach For America program from their budgets or reduce the number of teachers they use from the organization. The national program, designed to bring college graduates into low-income classrooms, wants school districts to pay a $1,000 for each teacher they use.
Paige Backs Reform in Certification of Teachers
Mar 19 2003 - The Washington Times
Education Secretary Rod Paige says he supports a new initiative in teacher certification. Paige recently endorsed the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, a $5 million federal effort designed to certify subject experts, experienced professionals, and military veterans as teachers, even if they lack education degrees. Education groups claim the program is a “quick and easy” answer designed to devalue “professional knowledge and rush teachers into the classroom.”
Wanted: Male Teachers
Feb 27 2003 - The Sacramento Bee
America needs more male teachers in the elementary classroom, according to recent statistics. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed 17.5 percent of the nation’s 2.2 million elementary school teachers were men in 2001. Education experts say “a more equitable balance of male and female teachers would better reflect the world students live in.” Elementary school principals say they’re interested in hiring more male teachers, but note the labor pool is too small.
Teacher in Space is Still in NASA's Plans
Feb 25 2003 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
NASA has announced its Educator Astronaut program “is still going strong” and that it will continue its efforts to send a teacher into space, despite the Feb. 1 loss of the space shuttle Columbia. According to an NASA spokesman, the agency has received inquires about the program on a daily basis since the disaster and it will continue to process nominations and applications from teachers. The program was announced Jan. 21.
Future Science Teachers Make Connections
Feb 10 2003 - Central Michigan Life
The first Michigan student chapter of NSTA has been created. Jim McDonald, the group’s founder and assistant professor of science education at Central Michigan University, said the organization is designed “to bring together students who want to become science teachers at both the elementary and secondary level.” Click on the above link to learn more about the group’s activities and future plans.
Teacher Shortage Abates
Feb 10 2003 - Los Angeles Times (Requires free registration)
Pay hikes, alternative credential programs, aggressive recruitment campaigns, and other factors have helped to ease the nation’s teacher shortage, according to this article. Education observers, however, note that school districts should not think the teacher shortage is over. They say there is a still a need for more teachers in science, math, and special education.
Teachers' Colleges Call for Uniform Testing
Feb 5 2003 - Education Week
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Preparation has proposed a system to evaluate prospective educators nationwide in an effort to reduce criticism of college-based teacher training programs. David Imig, the organization’s president and chief executive officer, said the plan would “make a difference in the level of learning for students.” Some educators observe, however, the plan will be difficult to implement with a sluggish economy and the potential for war.
New Website Rates Teachers' Credentials
Feb 5 2003 - The Sacramento Bee
As California faces a shortage of qualified teachers, one of the state’s education professors has created a website that rates teachers credentials. Ken Futernick, who teaches at California State University, Sacramento, voluntarily developed The Teacher Quality Index after Gov. Gray Davis vetoed legislation by Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) who originally initiated the project. The governor said compiling the data for the website would be too costly. Teachers can visit the website at www.edfordemocracy.org/tqi.
Teacher Shortage Misdiagnosed, Group Says
Jan 29 2003 - The Minneapolis Star Tribune
The problem of America’s teacher shortage has been misdiagnosed, according to a new report by the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future. Commission members say the real problem is not a short supply of teachers, but rather how to keep educators in the classroom. The commission has suggested more than 30 solutions to fix the problem including making the teaching profession more attractive by increasing salaries and improving teacher training programs.
Teachers With Stars in Eyes Apply to Blast Off
Jan 27 2003 - St. Petersburg (Florida) Times
Two Florida teachers are among the hundreds of educators who plan to apply for NASA’s Educator Astronaut Program, an initiative announced last week to recruit America's K–12 teachers as astronauts. This article profiles why Steven Frantz and Chuck Cramer want to participate in the program and offers a look into their various teaching backgrounds.
Bush Plan Would Aid Some Teachers
Jan 22 2003 - The Philadelphia Inquirer
College graduates who agree to teach science, math, and special education might have some financial help in the future. President Bush has included a plan in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2004 that would offer prospective science, math, and special education teachers $17,500 in financial assistance to pay off federal student loans. The proposed program would cost $70 million a year if implemented.
A Quest to Upgrade Teaching
Jan 22 2003 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
A former chairman of IBM has established a panel of educators, corporate executives, and politicians to address the issue of how to recruit and retain top quality teachers. Louis V. Gerstner Jr. said he does not want members of the panel to duplicate research they have already conducted on this topic. The panel will study the issues of teacher recruitment and retention for up to 14 months before issuing a list of policy recommendations in 2004.
Schools Fight for Teachers
Jan 21 2003 - The Chicago Tribune (Requires free registration)
Illinois education officials say they’re determined to keep their future educators at home, despite efforts by schools in Alaska, California, Texas, and Europe to recruit them for teaching positions. Illinois looses 20 percent of its future teachers to other states. Members of the Illinois State Board of Education, however, hope to reduce that figure by requesting funding from lawmakers for improved teacher recruitment programs.
Bonuses Aim to Foster Further Teacher Training
Jan 21 2003 - The Buffalo News (New York)
The Buffalo Public School system in New York is offering new teachers bonuses of up to $10,200 as a way to reduce the number of uncertified teachers in classrooms. Teachers recruited to teach science and math will be eligible to receive up to $3,400 annually in educational reimbursement for up to three years. School officials say the funding awarded to teachers will be used to pursue teacher certification.
Teaching Schools Forced to Rethink Approach
Jan 14 2003 - The Washington Post
America’s future teachers are getting a quick lesson in the various components of the new No Child Left Behind Act. The federal education bill is also forcing teaching schools to reevaluate how they will educate students interested in becoming teachers. Representatives from education schools say they are unlikely to follow the law's requirements until the state governments that fund education schools, and the school districts that hire their graduates, inform them to do so.
Florida Teachers Rack Up Some Stellar Credentials
Jan 9 2003 - St. Petersburg Times
Florida now has the second largest number of nationally certified teachers, thanks to the number of candidates who earned National Board Certification in 2002. A total of 1,243 teachers earned certification last year from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Officials attribute the increase to monetary incentives. Teachers in Florida who earn national certification receive a 10 percent salary increase for their efforts.
Third of Teachers Plan to Quit
Jan 7 2003 - BBC News
A new survey shows 34 percent of England’s teachers plan to leave the teaching profession within five years. Educators want to leave their profession as a result of too many government programs, an excessive workload, and misbehaving students, according to the poll. Government officials have pledged to make the profession a “more attractive career.”
Loyola Offers To Pay Tuition for Teachers
Jan 3 2003 - Chicago Sun-Times
Loyola University hopes to boost the teacher population by offering free tuition to graduate students interested in teaching for two years in the archdiocese. Students in the program will take education courses this summer and will participate in prayer sessions and religious retreats before they are assigned to teach in underserved areas. Students who complete the program will receive master’s degrees in education.
Failure Rate on Teacher Tests Rises
Dec 15 2002 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s growing enrollment and class size reductions are prompting a need for more teachers. However, 20 percent of prospective educators taking state certification tests in 2001 failed, according to the Professional Standards Commission. Some education officials observe, “test scores don’t tell the whole story.” “You cannot take a snapshot and have that snapshot be the entire picture,” said Jeff Hubbard, a gifted programs teacher in Jonesboro, Georgia. “The bigger picture is what do we need to do for the students who are not passing?”
Crossing the Pacific to Teach: Recruiters Look Overseas to Fill Vacancies
Aug 30 2002 - The Baltimore Sun
With school districts needing to hire 200,000 teachers a year amid a national shortage (particularly in subjects such as math and science), private recruiters plan to place at least 15,000 foreign teachers in American classrooms over the next five years, the above article reports. In fact, many are already here, hailing from countries such as China, India, and (especially) the Philippines. "This was the chance to practice my vocation in the land of milk and honey," said one foreign teacher, who now teaches math in Compton, California. Still, he admits, holding the attention of American schoolchildren has proven to be no easy task. Read more...
Dueling Editorials Address Out-of-Field Teaching Debate
Aug 27 2002 - USA Today
What factors are responsible for the large number of teachers who lack full credentials, as well as for the sizable number who are teaching "out-of-field"? Dueling editorials in today's USA Today -- one by the newspaper, the other by the executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals -- take up that question. Click above to see what both sides have to say on this important issue.
As Standards Rise, Too Few Teachers
Aug 26 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
The No Child Left Behind Act requires a well-qualified teacher in every classroom by the fall of 2005. But as the above article reports, this and other moves to bolster teaching come against the backdrop of continued teacher shortages in many places, tight budgets, and perhaps most vexing, stubbornly high teacher turnover rates. What, then, can be done to help states meet the terms of the new law? Read more...
Report: Many Middle, High-School Teachers Not Trained in Fields They Teach
Aug 22 2002 - USA Today
About 25 percent of public middle- and high-school classes are taught by teachers who lack a college major or minor in the subject they're teaching, says a new report by The Education Trust. Out-of-field teaching is particularly rampant in middle schools, the report notes, as well as in schools that serve mostly poor and minority students. What's at the root of the problem? According to Craig Jerald, an Education Trust policy analyst, teacher shortages explain part of the problem, but "administrative sloppiness and carelessness" also play a major role. Click above for the news story, or visit www.edtrust.org to get the full report.
Commentary: High Teacher Turnover Plagues Schools
Aug 19 2002 - USA Today
"Contrary to conventional wisdom, the so-called teacher shortage is not mainly due to an inadequate supply of trained teachers," writes education professor Richard Ingersoll in the above commentary. Instead, he argues, "the problem is largely due to how quickly many teachers leave their jobs," with research showing that as many as 33% of new hires leave teaching altogether in their first three years. What's driving these high turnover rates? As Ingersoll's research shows, it's not just low salaries that are to blame. Read more...
Wanted: More Male Teachers
Aug 13 2002 - Detroit Free Press
Men's involvement in education -- either as teachers or parents -- is critical to children's success, studies suggest. Yet according to the National Education Association, just 26 percent of the nation's 3 million teachers are men, with representation particularly low (15 percent) at the elementary level. Now, both the NEA and the national PTA are waging drives to boost the number of men in their ranks. Can they succeed, and what are the obstacles? The above article takes a look...
Editorial: Recruit Math and Science Ph.D.s for K-12 Classrooms
Aug 12 2002 - USA Today
"At a time when many...new Ph.D.s are struggling to find jobs in business or at colleges and universities, tapping them to fill some of the K-12 math and science vacancies makes sense," says the above editorial, which endorses the findings of a recent report by the National Research Council. That report (see previous story)
recommended creating a national fellowship program to attract recent recipients of math and science doctorates to K-12 teaching careers.
District Offers Teachers Shelter from Housing Costs
Aug 5 2002 - LA Times (requires free registration)
In April, the Santa Clara Unified School District, located in a high-cost Silicon Valley area, became the first in the nation to open a rent-subsidized apartment complex built strictly for public school educators. Now, at a time when many districts are desperate to attract and retain teachers, the question remains: Will this effort -- and others like it -- do the trick?
Report: National Program Needed to Draw Postdoctoral Scholars into K-12 Math/Science Education
Jul 31 2002 - National Research Council
The United States, in dire need of more science and math teachers, should create a national fellowship program to attract recent recipients of doctorates to K-12 teaching careers, says a new report from the National Academies' National Research Council. The program would help underwrite the preparation necessary for teacher certification, including time spent working in a K-12 environment, while serving as a bridge between secondary and higher education. Click here to read the Research Council's press release or here to go to the full report.
July Issue of "ENC Focus" Explores Ways to Increase Science Content Knowledge
Jul 12 2002 - NSTA
The July issue of ENC Focus, called "Increasing Your Mathematics and Science Content Knowledge," is now online. The issue features more than a dozen articles by teachers, who share their strategies for keeping current with their content specialties. ENC Focus is a free quarterly publication of the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse, a federally funded organization dedicated to improving K-12 math and science teaching and learning. Click here for the July issue, here to browse past issues, or
here to go to the ENC home page.
Teacher Training: Too Much or Not Enough?
Jul 9 2002 - Washington Post
The No Child Left Behind law requires states to certify in the next three years that all of their classroom teachers are "highly qualified." But what's the best route to a highly qualified workforce: traditional education schools or streamlined programs that quickly get promising teachers into the classroom? Similarly, should training programs focus more on content or teaching methods? The above article looks at these questions -- and what the experts have to say.
NEA Passes Measure to Woo More Men to Teaching
Jul 8 2002 - CNN -- AP
According to national statistics, only one in four public school teachers is male. Why are so few men attracted to the profession? At their annual meeting last week, members of the National Education Association explored that question. They also approved a measure to help recruit more men into the teaching ranks, with an emphasis on recruiting minorities and getting more men into elementary school jobs.
Education Department Releases First Annual Report on Teacher Quality
Jun 12 2002 - NSTA
The U.S. Department of Education released yesterday its first annual report to Congress on the state of teacher quality nationwide. Among other findings, the report claims that state certification systems allow into the classroom too many teachers who lack solid content knowledge of the subjects they will teach. To rectify this problem, the report urges states to overhaul their teacher certification systems by raising entry standards and lowering barriers that keep highly qualified candidates (e.g., mid-career professionals) from pursuing teaching careers. To learn more, go to the full report, or read an article in the Washington Post.
Interest is High in New Route to Teaching
May 30 2002 - Seattle Times
The above article examines several programs in Washington State that offer alternative routes to teacher certification. To be considered, candidates must be qualified to teach a subject that has a teacher shortage, such as math or science. Participants then undergo four to six weeks of training in the summer, followed by a yearlong internship, before heading off to a classroom of their own. They also get some financial help -- up to $22,000. The programs, the article notes, reflect a growing national trend to help career-changers prepare for and find teaching jobs. Click above for the full article -- or to learn more about alternative preparation and certification programs in the 50 states, visit the National Center for Education Information.
Illinois Bill Stiffens Testing Rules for Aspiring Teachers
May 23 2002 - Education Week
In what may be a first-of-its-kind proposal, the Illinois legislature has approved a measure that would require most aspiring teachers to pass a basic-skills test before entering colleges' teacher education programs. The new legislation emerged after a series of articles in the Chicago Sun-Times
revealed that hundreds of teachers in Illinois schools had failed the state's basic-skills test. The proposal, which has drawn the backing of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, now awaits the signature of Gov. George Ryan.
Film Takes Inside Look at Teachers' Rookie Year
Apr 25 2002 - Seattle Times
The above article reviews "The First Year," an award-winning PBS documentary that chronicles the emotional journey of five beginning teachers in the Los Angeles public school system. According to the article, "the result is a hymn to the passion and commitment of teachers everywhere who reach out to students when no one else does." Click above for the full review, or go to www.pbs.org/firstyear, where you can learn more about the film and its accompanying resources.
New Law Allows KY Districts to Pilot Differentiated Pay
Apr 17 2002 - Education Week
The Kentucky legislature has passed what appears to be a first-of-its-kind law that will allow five districts to abandon the traditional salary schedule and experiment with new ways of paying teachers, including performance-based rewards and higher salaries for teachers with specialties in math, science, and other shortage areas. "They can take whatever approaches they want to take, to show we can do something different," said a co-sponsor of the bill. The Kentucky Education Association stayed neutral on the matter.
Researcher Skewers Explanations Behind Teacher Shortage
Apr 11 2002 - Education Week
It's a myth that teacher shortages can be attributed largely to a wave of retirements or to surges in student enrollment, asserts Richard Ingersoll, a respected education researcher. Instead, he argues, the explanation is unusually high turnover rates among teachers, 39 percent of whom leave the field after five years on the job. Ingersoll says his findings suggest that schools, instead of focusing on recruitment drives, might have better luck meeting their demands for teachers by investing in efforts (such as better salaries and working conditions) to retain the teachers they already have.
Teachers Union Launches Unique Graduate School
Mar 29 2002 - Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Teachers Union officials unveiled plans to create the nation's first union-run graduate program in teacher leadership, aimed at making the system's best teachers "agents of change" rather than the targets of it. The new Jacqueline B. Vaughn Graduate School for Teachers will open in January 2003 and offer 200 "superior" Chicago public school teachers with at least three years of experience a two-year graduate degree that will help them be leaders in their schools.
Teaching Gains as Mid-Career Choice
Mar 14 2002 - USA Today
In what officials call a growing trend, an increasing number of mid-career workers across the country are turning to teaching -- in many cases, getting there by non-traditional routes. Officials hope the trend will help relieve a projected need for more than 2 million teachers over the next decade. But others warn that teachers who enter the classroom from alternative routes amount to a "trickle" compared to what the overall need is. To make a bigger dent, schools need to address how teachers are paid and rewarded.
Commentary: Second-Career Teachers Reinforce Faculty Ranks
Mar 11 2002 - The Baltimore Sun
"America needs 2 million teachers over the next decade, and there's no way states...are going to fill classrooms with teachers trained the traditional lockstep way," contends the author of the above opinion piece. To meet the nation's growing demand for new teachers, the author advocates the expansion of alternative paths to teaching, such as the New Teacher Project, Troops to Teachers, and Teach for America.
Teacher-Trainers Fear a Backfire from New ESEA
Mar 7 2002 - Education Week
The new education law (ESEA) demands that all K-12 teachers be "highly qualified" by 2005-2006. But as the above article explains, considerable confusion exists over exactly what "highly qualified" means. In fact, some observers fear that the requirement might actually backfire, in that it will tempt states (many of which are already facing teacher shortages) to "dumb down" existing licensing and certification procedures. "States may change their definitions of licenses," the dean of teacher education at CUNY said. "They may put a mirror under teachers' noses and, if it fogs, that means they're 'highly qualified.'"
Teacher Quality Takes Center Stage at White House
Mar 6 2002 - Washington Post, the White House, NEA
First Lady Laura Bush hosted the "White House Conference on Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers" yesterday, an event that brought together education experts to discuss strategies for enhancing teacher preparation and quality. Click here to read a Washington Post article on the conference. President Bush also delivered remarks at the meeting. He stressed that while the new education law expects a lot from teachers, "teachers have a right to expect certain things from us," including "support for their professional development." Not all have been pleased with the president's recent education proposals, however. Bob Chase, the head of the 2.6 million-member National Education Association, said yesterday that while he welcomes President Bush's attention to teacher quality, he is disappointed that the Administration's proposed 2003 budget actually reduces funding for that purpose. "Real reforms require resources," he said. Read NEA's press release.
Bush Promises to Recruit, Train Teachers
Mar 4 2002 - Los Angeles Times
In his weekly radio address Saturday, President Bush pledged to work to enlist a new generation of well-trained teachers. Specifically, he has asked Congress to expand programs that recruit math, science, and special-education teachers by forgiving part of their college loans in exchange for a commitment to teach in poor neighborhoods. Bush also said that professional development must be a priority. "We'll focus on teacher training efforts where the need is greatest -- in early childhood education, special education, math, science, and reading instruction," he said. But Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) says Bush's budget doesn't provide enough money to support his proposals. Read more...
Tools of the Trade: Novel Program Provides On-the-Job Teacher Training
Feb 28 2002 - Education Week
The above article profiles Shady Hill School, a private school in Cambridge, MA, that offers a unique teacher training program. Compared to traditional schools of education and to accelerated programs that churn out new teachers in a matter of weeks, "Shady Hill represents something of a third way of thinking about teacher preparation," the article says of the program, which gives tuition-paying apprentices the chance to gain on-the-job training under the intense supervision of Shady Hill's experienced teachers. Advocates say the 74-year-old program, which has been approved by the state to license public school teachers, offers a national model. "Probably not all teachers could be trained [this] way, especially if we need 2.5 million of them. But we could be using pieces of what they're doing," said a Harvard University education professor.
Harvard, Boston Public Schools Partner to Train Math and Science Teachers
Feb 20 2002 - Harvard Graduate School of Education
With $600,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Boston Public Schools have established a new partnership aimed at helping mid-career professionals transition into math and science teaching jobs. The effort is designed to address the shortage of qualified math and science teachers in Boston's middle and high schools. Read the press release...
More Applicants Answer the Call for Teaching Jobs
Feb 11 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
The sinking economy, stepped-up recruitment efforts, and a wave of soul-searching after Sep. 11 have increased the number of people seeking teaching jobs, the above article reports. In some districts, the trend is even helping to stem the perennial shortage of math and science teachers, with many applicants coming from the hard-hit technology and financial industries. But some observers are wondering: Once the economy improves, will these new hires stick around? Read more…
Up to Half of PA Teacher Candidates Fail Math/Science Tests
Jan 24 2002 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A recent state report shows that between one-third and one-half of Pennsylvania's prospective math and science teachers failed certification tests last year. The disappointing results are causing education officials to question whether the tests need to be rewritten or whether the state's teacher preparation programs are falling short in their efforts.
City Districts Lifting Rules on Residency
Jan 22 2002 - Education Week
As urban districts struggle to recruit qualified teachers, cities nationwide are moving to abolish rules requiring teachers to live in the cities where they teach. In the most recent example of this trend, the Chicago school system lifted its residency requirement for those who teach in high-need areas, such as math and science. And in coming years, many experts predict, residency dictates could very well vanish altogether.
Study: Teachers Seek Better Working Conditions
Jan 14 2002 - Education Week
With reports of teacher shortages growing, questions about how schools can attract and keep qualified teachers have taken on a new urgency. Paying teachers more seems like an obvious solution, but a recent study suggests that pay raises alone may not be enough of an incentive to attract teachers to hard-to-staff, low-performing schools. "The findings suggest that a lot more attention should be given to working conditions and the preferences of teachers in making policies," one of the report's co-authors said.
Online Report Cards for Teacher Programs Draw Heavy Response
Jan 9 2002 - Education Week
To the delight of federal administrators, thousands of people each day are visiting a new U.S. Department of Education website that is intended to illuminate the quality of the nation's teacher-preparation programs. The site, www.title2.org, provides report cards on 1,300 public and private colleges that train teachers, offering such data as the number of graduates who take state certification tests, the number passing, and the ranking of each school in one of four quartiles. Supporters say the site, which helps fulfill a mandate under Title II of the Higher Education Act, has been a catalyst for improving teacher-preparation programs.
Federal Teacher Goal Is Blasted
Jan 4 2002 - Sacramento Bee
While supporters are hailing "No Child Left Behind" as the most meaningful federal education reform in decades, critics say one crucial aspect of the legislation is nothing more than a pipe dream: the requirement that all teachers be fully credentialed within four years. "It's fantasy legislation. It's not going to happen," says Wayne Johnson, president of the California Teachers Association, noting that severe teacher shortages already exist in many parts of the state. Still, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), a key backer of the bill, says the legislation is dead serious about effecting change and provides increased resources to help states succeed.
California Being Pressured on Teacher Credentials
Dec 27 2001 - San Francisco Chronicle
No Child Left Behind, the federal education reform bill recently approved by Congress, requires states to ensure that all teachers are fully qualified to teach in four years. However, as teacher shortages grow in some states--such as California, where 14 percent of public school teachers did not have a preliminary teaching credential last year--some are wondering whether Congress may have set an unattainable goal.
When Science Teachers Know Their Stuff
Dec 11 2001 - Christian Science Monitor
In an effort to boost students' science achievement, schools are increasingly looking to hire teachers with strong undergraduate science backgrounds, the article says. This is true even at the elementary level, where some schools are experimenting with separate teachers for science classes. "Science-only teachers are better equipped to stay abreast of the science curriculum, and to to develop students' curiosity, open-mindedness, and persistence," said the headmaster of one Boston school that recently hired three science-only teachers for grades two through five.
Substandard Teachers Under the Microscope
Sep 25 2001 - Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago school officials are planning a massive "teacher quality crackdown" that, among other goals, will seek to curtail the use of temporarily certified teachers. The move follows findings from a Chicago Sun-Times investigative report that one of every 10 Chicago teachers tested since 1988, or 1,371 total teachers, had failed a Basic Skills test at least once. While many eventually passed the test (considered to be at an eighth-grade level), 635 never did but worked full-time last school year anyway, the report concluded.
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