Ensuring Teacher Quality in Pennsylvania Abe Feuerstein Virginia Goulding Johnson Thomas Robel Patrick Shannon Robert Vadella

Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements of NCLB ● Obtains full state certification ● Holds a bachelor’s degree ● Demonstrates subject matter competency in content area major and/or passed content area test in which he or she teaches

Pennsylvania’s Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements ● Fully certified ● Holds a bachelor’s degree ● Content area major and passed content area test ● Complete course work in education, including a minimum of 12 weeks of student teaching experience

Issue ● Pennsylvania produces a large number of certified teachers, but still has shortages of qualified teachers in some areas and in some subjects.

Areas ● Several PA districts – primarily urban, older suburban, and rapidly growing suburban and rural districts – have been heavy users of emergency certificates. ● Philadelphia generally accounts for about half the state’s use of emergency certificates. – Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers

School District Philadelphia City SD2,3892,167 Harrisburg City SD8390 Reading SD61102 Downingtown Area SD51 East Stroudsburg Area SD4833 York City SD4236 Lancaster SD4258 Chester-Upland SD2331 Neshaminy SD3844 Upper Darby SD2642 Pocono Mountain SD2812 Chambersburg Area SD2325

Primary subject areas for which emergency certificates are issued ● Elementary education ● Special education ● Mathematics ● English ● Various science disciplines ● Foreign languages and ● Social studies Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers

Subject Area New Teachers Emergency Certifications Arts69883 Career/Technical Education1, Civics37252 Early Childhood/ Elementary Ed.7,8821,365 English Foreign Languages Math Other Reading/ Language Arts24753 Science Special Education2,4581,188 State Totals 16,4444,368

Moving beyond narrow definitions of highly qualified ● Dedication to the field of teaching ● Connection to the community in which the teacher is located ● General effectiveness of the teacher with respect to the achievement of students

Recommendations ● Recruitment, Preparation and Induction ● Math and Science Certification ● Engagement of Higher Education

Recruitment, Preparation and Induction Recommendation 1-A Review the structure for the state’s teacher education program, including core knowledge, pedagogical skills training, and sequential field experience for all teaching candidates to ensure state-wide uniformity.

Recruitment, Preparation and Induction Recommendation 1-B Require Pennsylvania’s institutions of higher education for teacher preparation to adopt the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards.

Recruitment, Preparation and Induction Recommendation 2 Invest in resources and websites (with appropriate training) that will assist school districts in the development of promotional materials, campus visits and intensive teacher recruitment.

Recruitment, Preparation and Induction Recommendation 3 Increase the pool of qualified teachers by monitoring the effectiveness of non-traditional teacher recruitment and preparation programs.

Recruitment, Preparation and Induction Recommendation 4 Ensure that induction programs are of high quality and include mentoring from veteran teachers.

Math and Science Certification Recommendation 5 Develop a “Highly Qualified Teacher Corp” for Pennsylvania’s high schools to increase the number of female and minority college students seeking teaching certification in the fields of mathematics and physical sciences.

Engagement of Higher Education Recommendation 6-A Pennsylvania should develop a “pipeline program” of intending teacher candidates (K-12) using the existing 95 teacher education institutions, providing candidates with mentoring and support throughout high school and college.

Engagement of Higher Education Recommendation 6-B Each of the existing 95 teacher education institutions in Pennsylvania should form collaborative professional partnerships with junior and community colleges to identify/recruit quality intending teacher candidates.

Engagement of Higher Education Recommendation 6-C Pennsylvania’s 95 teacher education institutions should seek out opportunities to recruit community members, paraeducators, career change adults, and other quality teacher candidates, providing necessary support/transition to their programs.

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