Chapter 8: Meeting the Highly Qualified Teachers Challenege

A new U.S. Department of Education report asks states to revamp licensing requirements to reduce the number of teacher preparation courses required for licensure. The report says “teacher preparation programs are failing” (p. viii, Meeting the Highly Qualified Teachers Challenge) at producing the kinds of teachers the nation requires.

Our view is that Title II data support a different conclusion. Title II data show that most programs graduate teachers who meet today’s state licensing requirements. These requirements include a content major for prospective teachers in 38 states. In the structure of government in America, the States have the right and responsibility to set standards for teacher preparation. Against these standards, teacher candidates, especially those at professionally accredited institutions, are doing a commendable job. Teacher preparation programs today have met the challenge set when Congress passed Title II of the Higher Education Act in 1998.