Teaching Profession Report Roundup

Teacher Preparation

By Brenda Iasevoli — May 16, 2017 1 min read
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Too many teacher-preparation programs are doing a poor job of covering content that future science and social studies teachers need to master, according to a new report.

Only 57 percent of education programs provide teacher-candidates with the science and social studies courses they need to do their job well, says the report released last week by the National Council on Teacher Quality, a Washington group that tracks teacher policies. The report evaluates 717 undergraduate programs that train high school teachers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their coverage of subject-specific content and admissions requirements, among other topics.

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Most states allow programs to prepare teachers of subjects like chemistry and biology to earn certification in general science. Top-ranked programs, including the University of Minnesota-Duluth, had more comprehensive science training.

A version of this article appeared in the May 17, 2017 edition of Education Week as Teacher Preparation

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