Teacher Qualification Requirements and Current Student Achievement

Transcription

1 Wrong Direction: Why the Lowering of Teacher Qualification Requirements Will Negatively Impact Student Learning Presentation to the Education Governance Commission by Judith Reeson Dec. 5 th 2011

2 A Snapshot of Current Student Achievement Levels. Recent PISA scores show that literacy proficiency for 15 year olds on PEI has fallen 60% over the last 10 years. Currently 21% of all 15 year-olds can t read properly.

3 Teachers can Positively Impact Literacy Proficiency Rates Numerous studies link high academic standards in teachers with high academic achievement in students. Smart well educated teachers produce smart well educated students.

4 Raising Proficiency Rates- Target the Primary Grades Major studies have shown that literacy success by grade 3 is an accurate predictor of future educational success. (Reading on Level in Third Grade - Lesnick et al, Univ. of Chicago, 2010) If PEI wants to raise its literacy success rates it has to target the primary grades.

5 Target Primary Grades To do so it needs to provide the highest academically qualified teachers to the targeted grades (1-3).

6 But instead of either upholding or raising the current academic standards for teachers in the primary grades PEI has decided to lower them instead.

7 A New Teaching Degree For the 2013/2014 school year a new teaching degree will be in place: The B Ed (Kindergarten): A 2 year degree Lack of academic content (no first degree) No practicum at grade level No experience in teaching the academic curriculum

8 Facts on the B Ed (Kindergarten) The lowest standard for a teachers degree in the country. Holders are not qualified to teach any grade level in any other provincial school system in Canada. The MPHEC has recommended that holders of this degree only teach at the kindergarten level here on PEI.

9 Decision of the MPHEC The B Ed (Kindergarten) only qualifies its graduates to teach kindergarten. Graduates of the program may not be qualified to teach at any level outside of PEI.

10 Failing to Stand Up for Standards How did the Minister, The Dept of Education and the members of the Certification and Standards Board respond to the MPHEC decision?

11 Going Against the MPHEC Recommendation In May 2010 the Certification and Standards Board recommended that B Ed (Kindergarten) graduates be given a license to teach grades In June the Minister scaled this back to grades 1 and 2 as well as kindergarten. but this is still 2 grades higher than the MPHEC said they were qualified for.

12 A New Lower Standard for Grade 1 and 2 Teachers So beginning in the 2013/2014 school year grade 1 and 2 Island students may be taught by recipients of the lowest teacher qualification standard in the country.

13 A New Lower Standard for Grade 1 and 2 Teachers Prior to this change: PEI had one of the highest academic qualification standards in the country with the majority of teachers earning 2 degrees - a BA or B Sc and a B Ed. This change is set to continue.

14 Lower qualified teachers will enter the grade 1 & 2 job market ahead of higher qualified teachers There are approximately 150 Kindergarten Instructors enrolled in the B Ed (Kindergarten) at UPEI. The first of these will graduate in Most are already working as Kindergarten Instructors in the PEI school system.

15 Lower qualified teachers will enter the grade 1 & 2 job market ahead of higher qualified teachers Teaching jobs are offered first to those already in the system.

16 PEI is heading in the wrong direction Given our continued declining student achievement scores - is placing under qualified Kindergarten Instructors into grade 1 and 2 teaching roles really the direction we want to take?

17 Research tells us we are going in the wrong direction Major research findings over the past decade shows that one of the most effective ways of raising achievement levels in students is by raising achievement levels in teacher education programs.

18 Impact of teacher qualifications on student performance Overwhelmingly research shows that teachers who get the best out of their students are also those with the highest qualifications from the most competitive schools.

19 This research includes: Report and Recommendations of the Review Panel on Teacher Education in Nova Scotia, Dec Educating School Teachers The Levine Report 2006 How The World s Best Performing School Systems Come Out On Top- McKinsey & Company Sept The Shapiro Report 1994

20 What the research says The Shapiro Report and the Nova Scotia Teacher Education Panel, both acknowledged the critical importance of having a 2 year post-baccalaureate professional teacher education program.

21 What the research says The Nova Scotia Review Panel Looked at how candidates are selected for admission to B Ed programs Careful selection of candidates is closely related to the issue of quality. Rigorous candidate selection for teaching = hallmark of exemplary education systems Endorses rigorous standards limited enrolment in the teacher education professional program admitting only the highest qualified candidates

22 What the research says - The Preparation of Elementary Teachers The ability to comprehend, analyze, synthesize and evaluate a wide range of published materials A knowledge of and appreciation for literature An understanding of and confidence in their own ability to perform mathematical tasks An understanding of life, physical and earth sciences An awareness of social, historical and political forces that affect people s lives An understanding of and skill in using technology/media

23 What the research says -Teaching is a Profession Commonplaces shared by all professions: Scholarly knowledge Enact knowledge Professional standards

24 What the research says Smart well educated teachers produce smart well educated students.

25 Standing Up For Standards If we seriously want to address concerns about low and declining achievement among Island students then we need to start by ensuring they are being taught by the highest qualified teachers available on the Island.

26 Standing Up For Standards All Island students deserve to be taught by a fully qualified teacher who has studied the teachable subjects at university level, completed practicum in academic curriculum and has knowledge, experience and passion for academic studies. Currently there are over 400 fully qualified teachers on PEI who are looking for full-time teaching jobs

27 So why are we putting under qualified people into teaching positions at the grades 1 and 2 level?

28 What Needs to Change? Uphold the MPHEC s decision Kindergarten Instructors should not be permitted to teach grades 1 and 2.

29 From the paper: Knowledge to Support the Teaching of Reading: Preparing Teachers for a Changing World (2005) We cannot eliminate the achievement gap in our schools without closing the knowledge gap in our profession.» Snow, Griffin, and Burns (2005), pg 223

30 References For the information cited in this presentation refer to : Snow, C., Griffin, P., & Burns, M. (2005). Knowledge to support the teaching of reading. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass LePage, P., Courey, S., CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCLUSIVE TEACHER EDUCATION. San Francisco State University Note: A copy of the MPHEC letter to Minister of Education (May ) was handed out at presentation