Building a Profession: Strengthening Teacher Preparation and Induction. Report of the K-16 Teacher Education Task Force.

Overview & Synopsis

The American Federation of Teachers believes that the best way to bring an adequate supply of well-trained teachers into the classroom is not by avoiding collegiate teacher education but rather by strengthening it (by bringing higher quality, greater resources, and more coherence to how teacher education screens and prepares teacher candidates). In 1998, the AFT created a task force of K-12 and higher education leaders to examine issues related to improving teacher education. It found that while some teacher education programs had taken significant steps to reshape curricula and raise standards, many were still beset by serious problems (e.g., difficulty recruiting the most able students and underinvestment by the university in teacher education). Recommendations include: require core liberal arts courses, institute higher entry criteria, institute a national entry test, require an academic major, develop core curricula in pedagogy, strengthen the clinical experience, institute a rigorous exit/licensure test, take a 5-year view, strengthen induction, and require high standards for alternative programs. (Contains 26 bibliographic references.) (SM)