Teacher Quality
OPEN has long taken the position that teacher quality is the most important school-based factor in student success. In today’s increasingly diverse classroom, cultural competency is a vital issue for new educators. We believe in the necessity of creating a community-aligned teacher preparation programs that build an educator workforce capable of authentically engaging New Orleans children.
Teacher Quality Fast Facts
• Of the 21 Louisiana teacher preparation programs that were fully evaluated by the National Council on Teacher Quality, only 9 elementary and 7 secondary programs were strong enough to receive a national ranking.
• Only 17% of programs in Louisiana fully meet this standard — significantly less than the national average of 28%.
• Across a national sample of 509 institutions, teacher candidates were half again as likely to qualify for honors at graduation as other undergraduates — a fact that suggests significant lack of rigor in these programs.
• Alternative or non-traditional teacher preparation programs now account for almost 1 in 5 new teachers nationwide.
Sources: Teacher Prep Review 2014 Report and Training Our Future Teachers: Easy A’s and What’s Behind Them, National Council on Teacher Quality, 2014
OPEN’s Position
The best way to assess teacher effectiveness is to look at performance factors that include classroom strategies, curriculum management, and student test scores. Great teaching demands a combination of many factors: deep knowledge of subject matter, class management techniques and academic standards; genuine passion for learning and care for student wellbeing; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. High quality teachers set high expectations for all students, have clear, written- out objectives and lesson plans, form strong relationships with their students as people, and proactively communicate with parents.
One way of ensuring teacher quality is ensuring high-quality teacher preparation programs. According to the National Council of Teacher Quality, of the 21 Louisiana teacher preparation programs that were fully evaluated, only nine elementary and seven secondary programs were strong enough to receive a national ranking. In its 2014 Teacher Prep Review, the NCTQ concluded that only 17% of programs in Louisiana fully meet this standard — significantly less than the national average of 28%. Alternative preparation programs (ie non-college-based settings) are also gaining popularity, accounting for nearly 1 in 5 new teachers in the United States. The most effective alternative certification programs provide induction, mentoring and ongoing support throughout the teacher’s first two years.
The good news is that Louisiana has higher percentages of programs that meet the standard for early reading instruction, student teaching experience, classroom management and elementary content preparation. The results were not as good for subject matter preparation of secondary teacher candidates, with only 23% of programs fully meeting the standard, compared to the national average of 35%.