Ensuring Teacher Quality in Pennsylvania

Abe FeuersteinVirginia Goulding Johnson Thomas RobelPatrick ShannonRobert Vadella

Highly Qualified TeacherRequirements 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 2003-04 2004-05

Philadelphia City SD 2,389 2,167

Harrisburg City SD 83 90

Reading SD 61 102

Downingtown Area SD 51 51

East Stroudsburg Area SD 48 33

York City SD 42 36

Lancaster SD 42 58

Chester-Upland SD 23 31

Neshaminy SD 38 44

Upper Darby SD 26 42

Pocono Mountain SD 28 12

Chambersburg Area SD 23 25

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 2003-04

Emergency Certifications

2004-05

Arts 698 83

Career/Technical Education 1,171 352

Civics 372 52

Early Childhood/ Elementary Ed. 7,882 1,365

English 943 106

Foreign Languages 336 257

Math 683 265

Other 660 429

Reading/ Language Arts 247 53

Science 994 218

Special Education 2,458 1,188

State TotalsState Totals 16,44416,444 4,3684,368

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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Ensuring Teacher Quality in Pennsylvania