Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers

Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers

Pennsylvania Education Policy ForumPittsburgh, September 28, 2006

Robert E. Feir, Executive Director

Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

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Teachers are the Future . . .


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. . . Because Children are the Future

“Teachers must succeed if students are to succeed, and students must succeed if society is to succeed.”

Michael Fullan


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Commission Organization

Appointed by Governor Rendell last August 40 members Chaired by Dick Kneedler 3 staff members Met monthly (October-June) 4 regional meetings and 1 teleconference Meetings with interested groups Surveys


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Commission Members

HE deans and presidents

PK-12 teachers and administrators

Parents, business and community leaders

4 Legislators


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Commission Goals

Assure world class preservice teacher education

Link preservice and continuing professional education in PK-12

Address need for quality teachers in shortage areas (subjects and districts)

Capitalize on “over-supply”


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Commission Focus

“Our concern has been to improve the education of tomorrow’s teachers so every child in Pennsylvania will have an opportunity to succeed in the high-skill, technological, diverse, global society that our students will be called upon to lead.”

Commission Final Report


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Commission Focus


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Commission Report

Approved by Commission June 9 Finalized and printed in July Presented to the Governor August 4

Available for download at:

www.pateach.org


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Findings – Basis for Growth

Large, diverse system of teacher education General satisfaction with quality of new

teachers – in Pennsylvania and elsewhere Policies that generally support continued

professional growth of teachers


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Findings – Needs

Shortage areas

Diversity – shortage of teachers of color

Better preparation for complex and diverse teaching environment

Improved partnerships between higher education and PK-12


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Findings – Needs

Shortage areas– Math– Science– World languages– Special education– Hard-to-staff schools – urban (and to a lesser

degree rural) schools – and retention issues


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Needs – Shortage Areas

Subject Area

Ratio of Certificates to New Hires 2001-02 through 2003-04

Mathematics 1.3

Science 2.2

World Languages 1.4

Special Education 1.9

All Certificates 2.8


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Findings – Needs

Diversity – shortage of teachers of color– 6% teachers of color– 24% students of color – Issue has become more pronounced during past

decade


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Findings – Teacher Diversity


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Needs – Teacher Diversity

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

1994-95 1996-97 1998-99 2000-01 2002-03 2004-05

Students of Color

Teachers of Color


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Findings – Needs

Better preparation for complex and diverse teaching environments– Classroom management– Standards– Standardized test preparation– Differentiated instruction– Using assessment data to improve instruction– Technology


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Needs – Better Preparation

New Teachers Not Well Prepared or At

All Prepared for:

Respondents Providing Rating

SuperintendentsVeteran

TeachersNew

TeachersEducation

Deans

Classroom management 27% 44% 39% 0%

Standards 24% 15% 25% 0%

Test Performance 41% 26% 53% 2%Differentiated instruction 38% 37% 32% 0%Using test data to improve instruction 56% 44% 31% 2%

Technology 17% 28% 30% 0%


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Findings – Needs

Improved partnerships between higher education and PK-12

“We need to redefine teacher education from a 4- or 5-year collegiate experience to a 7-year collegiate and practice experience featuring increased quality of preservice programs, induction, and continuing professional education, as well as improved linkages among them.”

Commission Final Report


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Recommendations

Improve initial preparation, induction, and professional development

Respond to shortages of high quality teachers

Increase the economic competitiveness of teacher education

Improve data for state policy purposes


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Recommendations


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Recommendations

Improve initial preparation, induction, and professional development

– University-based programs, especially clinical practice, and PDE oversight

– Induction – 2 years and better focused ($$)– Innovations in transition to teaching ($$)– Professional development – more focused– Professional development schools ($$)– Differentiated staffing in schools– NBPTS support ($$)


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Recommendations

Respond to shortages of high quality teachers– Math-science loan forgiveness ($$)– Math-science expansion pilot projects ($$)– More urban clinical experiences ($$)– Grow-your-own programs ($$)– Standardized intern certification programs– Reciprocity– District and university efforts to increase pipeline


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Recommendations

Increase the economic competitiveness of teacher education– Specialized teacher education consortia in high-

need areas ($$)– PASSHE out-of-state enrollment cap– Reciprocity– Previous recommendations on program

improvements


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Recommendations

Improve data for state policy purposes– Greater unification and accessibility – teacher

certification and professional personnel data


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Commission Report

Available for download at:

www.pateach.org


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Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers

Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaEdward G. Rendell, Governor

Robert E. Feir, Executive Director2986 North Second Street

Harrisburg, PA 17110717/720-4239

[email protected]

Documents

Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers