How Are States Tracking Teacher Training Programs?
With the election behind us, it’s time to focus on what’s ahead for education policy. One area of particular importance – and expected emphasis for the Obama administration’s second term – is teacher effectiveness. Teachers unions are closely monitoring (and taking part) in the conversation, particularly when it comes to new requirements being adopted by many states which require student test scores to be a factor in evaluating educator job performance.
A critical component to teacher effectiveness is the training individuals receive through their preparation programs before they are ever put in charge of a classroom of their own. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it clear that overhauling and improving teacher training nationally is a priority for his department. To that end, the feds are offering sizable fiscal incentives to states to identify and shut down low-performing teacher training programs. (At an event in Washington, D.C. last year shortly after these new incentives were announced,
A critical component to teacher effectiveness is the training individuals receive through their preparation programs before they are ever put in charge of a classroom of their own. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it clear that overhauling and improving teacher training nationally is a priority for his department. To that end, the feds are offering sizable fiscal incentives to states to identify and shut down low-performing teacher training programs. (At an event in Washington, D.C. last year shortly after these new incentives were announced,