Two Factors That Demand Action

Teacher preparation & teacher experience are the second & third of sixteen factors identified by the Educational Testing Service as influencing student learning.

“Teacher preparation – Minority and low-income students are less likely to be taught by certified teachers and more likely to be taught by math teachers with neither a major nor minor in mathematics. The gap in students having teachers pre- pared in the subjects they teach widened between White and Hispanic students and remained about the same for the other populations.”

NCLB establishes the concept of “highly qualified” teachers  and “requires states to make sure that low-income and minority students have equal access to qualified teachers.”  

Yet, there is clearly a discrepancy; something like 8-10% between white students and minority students.  And, there seems to be little change over the period covered by the data.

“Teacher experience – Minority and low-income students are more likely to be taught by inexperienced teachers. These gaps have not changed.”  The gaps appear to be between 5-10%, depending upon the group.

Our legislatures, communities, school districts, school boards, and teachers organizations need to come together to establish policies to address these issues.  It is not only within our power to address them, there is a moral imperative to address them. 

You can find the data explained in greater detail on pages 11 & 12 & 13 of the ETS report.

http://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/PICPARSINGII.pdf