NCTQ’s teacher-education ratings deserve an F
Why does Teach For America come out on top in NCTQ’s teacher-education ratings?
Hey Bill, have you seen this?” I turned to Bill Gaudelli, chair of Teachers College’s Department of Arts and Humanitiesand coordinator of the program preparing social studies educators.
“What’s that?” he asked. I showed him the screen of my iPad.
“It’s the latest version of the National Council on Teacher Quality’s ratings of teacher education programs. Look!” I said. “The College’s Graduate Secondary Education programs got a D+!”
Bill rolled his eyes. NCTQ has a history of getting things wrong, at Teachers College and elsewhere. Two years ago, NCTQ rated a non-existent undergraduate teacher preparation program at Teachers College, not understanding that Barnard College, Columbia University and Teachers College are independent but affiliated institutions. Things haven’t gotten much better; in its latest report,Path to Teach, NCTQ has a listing for Columbia University, and for Barnard, but not for Teachers College—even though Columbia has no graduate programs in teacher education.
“And look at your program, Bill!” I exclaimed.
One of the dimensions on which NCTQ rates undergraduate and NCTQ’s teacher-education ratings deserve an F - The Hechinger Report: