A Call for Change in Teacher Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This report is organized around the following themes: (1) supply and demand for quality teachers (scholastic attainments of prospective teachers at the high school and college levels, demographic and social forces having an impact upon the recruitment of qualified students); (2) programs for teacher education (liberal education, subject specialization, professional education); (3) accountability for teacher education (state standards for teacher education programs, accreditation of teacher education programs); (4) resources for teacher education (school of education funding, allocation of resources for research and development, advanced degree programs); and (5) conditions necessary to support the highest quality of teaching (teacher salaries, advancement opportunities, work environments, status, autonomy). A broad analysis of each of the issues is provided and supported by empirical findings. A series of 16 recommendations is proposed to address the need for change and improvement. Included among the appendices is a listing of testimony presented at the commission hearings. (JD)