Testing Teacher Candidates The Role of Licensure Tests in Improving Teacher Quality (2001) / Chapter Skim
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1. Introduction
1. Introduction
Pages 11-18
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From page 11... ...
In his 1996 State of the Union Address, President Clinton called for "dedicated, outstanding teachers, who know their subject matter, are effectively trained, and know how to teach to high standards." His Secretary of Education, Richard Riley, highlighted aspects of a revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act during his annual state of American Education speech (1999~. He called on states and school districts to address teacher quality and make improvements in the recruitment, preparation, and training of teachers.
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From page 12... ...
They raise questions about the appropriateness and soundness of current measures of teacher competence and about the roles of federal and state governments and higher education in assuring the quality of teacher preparation and teacher licensure. PROBLEM STATEMENT Educational Reform In 1996, President Clinton, the nation's governors, and American business professionals met at the National Education Summit to renew their commitment to achieving high academic standards for American students and schools (Achieve, 1997~.
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From page 13... ...
Forty-two states currently use tests in licensing beginning teachers to support varied decisions about teacher candidates. States use teacher licensure tests as a standard for entry into teacher training programs or student teaching, to certify successful completion of teacher training, or to control the initial licensure of teachers (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, 2000b)
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From page 14... ...
In 1998 Congress amended Title II of the Higher Education Act to provide funds for teacher quality initiatives proposed by states and partnerships of higher education institutions, high-need school districts, and other agencies. Under Title II new provisions call for reform of teacher preparation, reform of licensure requirements, enhanced teacher recruitment efforts, and alternatives to traditional teacher education.
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From page 15... ...
These requirements face opposition from states and higher education institutions (Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium, 1999; American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 1999, 2000a; American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, 2000; Teacher Education Accreditation Council, 2000~. Critics question whether the requirements of the law provide a sound basis for determining the quality of teacher education programs (Blair, 1999~.
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From page 16... ...
It solicited testimony from state policy makers about INTASC and NBPTS efforts, and from staff of the leading test development agencies. The committee interviewed teacher candidates; commissioned papers on evaluation criteria for teacher licensure tests; consulted with and commissioned analyses from experts in measurement, licensure, economics, and law; and commissioned bibliographical reviews on test validity issues in initial teacher licensure and on teacher supply.
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From page 17... ...
and subject areas; · whether there is as much variation across states in the knowledge and skills needed to be minimally competent as differences in state passing scores suggest; · whether initial teacher licensure tests appropriately or inappropriately limit supply, both in the aggregate and for minority candidates; and · whether teacher licensure systems should be centralized to consolidate states' development resources and allow candidates to more easily move across states. The committee poses these as questions to the field.
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From page 18... ...
Chapter 6 examines the extent to which tests can and cannot improve teacher competence and supply. Chapter 7 examines the newly enacted Title II, the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants for States and Partnerships, and discusses the use of licensure test results for program accountability.
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