Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Before Teachers Teach, Assess Them Rigorously

March 29, 2011 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

In the search for improved student learning, policymakers rightfully look to much-needed improvements in teacher-preparation programs. A seemingly sensible strategy is to measure the effectiveness of and accredit preparation programs to examine how well their graduates do in teaching their students (“New Rules for Ed. Prep Are Mulled,” March 9, 2011).

However, putting aside the considerable methodological problems of measuring the actual gains in achievement that can be attributed to teachers, this approach to assessing preparation programs will have unreliable and negative consequences.

There is abundant research showing that the practices of beginning teachers are strongly influenced by the norms and expertise of other teachers in their schools, by the support they get in their first years of teaching, and by the conditions in their schools that support student learning.

Teacher-preparation programs have no influence over these powerful effects on teaching quality.

Do we need better and fewer teacher-preparation programs? Of course! So, what to do? Develop rigorous performance-based assessments of teacher-candidates before they are allowed to teach, just as we try to do with every other profession we value.

Willis D. Hawley

Washington, D.C.

Mr. Hawley is a professor emeritus of education and public policy at the University of Maryland. He is also a former member of the board of Editorial Projects in Education, Education Week’s nonprofit parent company.

A version of this article appeared in the March 30, 2011 edition of Education Week as Before Teachers Teach, Assess Them Rigorously

Events

Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: October 11, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: September 27, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: September 20, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education From Our Research Center What's on the Minds of Educators, in Charts
Politics, gender equity, and technology—how teachers and administrators say these issues are affecting the field.
1 min read
Stylized illustration of a pie chart
Traci Daberko for Education Week