Teacher Training Programs: The Missing Link in Student Achievement?
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Friday a new federal initiative to improve teacher training programs across the country, including $185 million to reward teachers for superior student test scores.
As the Wall Street Journal reported, the federal program would require states to make teacher licensing exams more challenging, and require sub-par teacher training programs to be shut down.
While announcing the new initiative Friday at a Washington, D.C. event sponsored by the Education Sector policy think tank, Duncan had some zingers:
*Close to two-thirds of new teachers say they feel unprepared for their jobs. What would happen if a similar