AUSTIN — Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released new research revealing that America’s schools of education are falling short in preparing future teachers. The report points to low admission standards, weak GRE scores, and widespread grade inflation as signs that many education programs are failing to equip teachers for success in the classroom. It also demonstrates that too many schools have emphasized political ideology over subject mastery and research-based instructional practices, with little evidence of improved student achievement.
The report recommends replacing the current certification model with teacher preparation programs centered on deep subject knowledge, rigorous academic standards, and meaningful classroom apprenticeships. It also calls on schools of education to return to their original purpose: cultivating a love of truth, goodness, and beauty through the liberal arts while preparing thoughtful citizens capable of self-government in a free republic.
“Our current teacher preparation system isn’t serving teachers or students as well as it should,” said Kate Bierly, Campaign Director for Next Generation Texas at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “Texas has a real opportunity to lead the country by raising expectations for teacher preparation and putting the focus back on subject expertise, rigorous training, and hands-on classroom experience. If we want better outcomes for students, we have to begin by preparing excellent teachers.”
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Read the full research paper here.