Science and Math Teacher Initiative

Transcription

1 Science and Math Teacher Initiative (CalTeach) Program Highlights Report

2 OVERVIEW The University of California Science and Math Teacher Initiative known as CalTeach is making a strong contribution to the supply of highly qualified teachers of math and science by strengthening the state's undergraduate pipeline. California, a hub of tremendous technological innovation, is challenged like much of the nation by a shortage of the math and science teachers needed to prepare future generations for the workforce. Several factors contribute to this shortfall: significant decreases over the last few years in the number of people pursuing teaching credentials, both in California and beyond, a projected wave of teacher retirements and increasing K-12 enrollment in the near future. CalTeach was created to help address this challenge. Launched in 2005 by the University of California (UC), CalTeach successfully recruits, prepares and inspires talented undergraduates to explore careers as math or science educators. Housed at all nine of UC s undergraduate campuses Berkeley, Davis, Los Angeles, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz programs invite students majoring in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) disciplines to augment their studies with a sequence of CalTeach courses and fieldwork experiences that introduce them to teaching while they concurrently complete undergraduate degrees. These courses, together with research opportunities and practical experience in K-12 classrooms, complement participants discipline-specific studies and prepare them to seek a teaching credential while or after earning a bachelor s degree. CalTeach reaches students and schools throughout the state. Since the program's inception, more than 9,000 UC undergraduate students have explored a career in teaching math or science by participating in a CalTeach program. Of these, 1,342 have gone on to earn a math or science credential. FEATURES CalTeach provides students 1 with the skills, experience and tools to pursue a teaching credential and, eventually, a career in teaching. Through rigorous CalTeach courses, program participants learn conceptual teaching skills and practice these methods in local K-12 classrooms, through field experiences offered through their courses and through intensive summer internships at local schools. Seasoned mentor teachers oversee participants experiences in K-12 math and science classrooms. Additionally, nearly all CalTeach programs offer a minor or concentration in math and/or science education that focuses on teaching in those disciplines. Three UC campuses Berkeley, Irvine and Los Angeles offer accelerated credential programs that provide CalTeach students with two options: earn a teaching credential along with their baccalaureate degree in four years, or combine the last year of undergraduate studies with their first year of credential studies. In collaboration with UC faculty and graduate students, CalTeach programs sponsor research projects that contribute to best practices in preparing and supporting math and science teaching and learning. Sample research topics include assessing CalTeach graduates preparedness for teaching, the effect of field experiences on attitudes toward teaching and public education, and effective methods for tracking CalTeach graduates who enter teaching careers. 1 The great majority of CalTeach students are undergraduates; however, a small number of graduate students also participate. The CalTeach contribution to public education lies not only in its excellence in preparing much-needed STEM teachers, but also in raising awareness about the value of teachers and the teaching profession among the state s future engineers, scientists and mathematicians." PROFESSOR GEORGE JOHNSON, CHAIR, CALTEACH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

3 CalTeach has prepared me so well, with over 200 hours of fieldwork in K-12 classrooms, dozens of teaching strategies, and substantial practice designing discovery-based and cognitively demanding lessons." KIM NGO, MATHEMATICS MAJOR, UC IRVINE STUDENT TEACHER, LA QUINTA H.S. As a first-generation college student, I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience inside and outside of the classroom, helping me to prepare and strengthen my skills for the future. CalTeach has given me the support, guidance and motivation to become a math educator." MACKENZIE LUCKY, STUDENT ADVISOR FOR CALTEACH, UC BERKELEY PROG R A M OF F E R I N GS CalTeach provides a rich array of academic and career preparation opportunities for students interested in pursuing a math or science teaching credential. Its components are grounded in current research on the best practices in teacher preparation. Although campus programs have distinct approaches to teacher preparation, common features across CalTeach programs include: Recruiting and advising Relevant coursework Field experiences Research experiences Professional networking opportunities University faculty collaboration across disciplines Mentorship by K-12 teachers Data collection and analysis Community college partnerships Financial aid and stipends for students and mentor teachers

4 YEAR IN REVIEW In, CalTeach continued its successful recruitment and preparation of UC undergraduates for careers as math or science teachers. Despite the statewide trend of decreases in the number of people entering the teaching profession, CalTeach participation is on the rise. The following sections highlight recent outcomes related to impact, diversity and preparation, which together provide an overview of the program s achievements. IMPACT CalTeach continues to grow CalTeach enrollment is at the highest level since the program s inception, with 1,742 students participating in UC TEP CSU TEP , ,000 physical sciences (156) 2, Math 19 Math 15 Science 18 Other 4 interdisciplinary/ multiple STEM (55) engineering (95) other to 2014 STEM (124) computer science (10) mathematics/statistics (387) 1,742 participants 1,738 participants 1,643 participants CalTeach graduates are earning 2,688 math course and enrollment science teaching credentials 2,471 course enrollment Since , 1,374 teaching credentials 2,386 course have enrollment been awarded to CalTeach graduates. The number has steadily increased, despite a diminishing 70 Math number of teaching credentials being awarded across the state. In, a total of 289 credentials 59 Science were awarded to CalTeach graduates, comprising 131 math, 151 science, and 227 Other supplemental 4 credentials. 2 number of credentials number of credentials number of credentials , , ,000 2, to ,217 CalTeach STEM Undergraduates by Major total science mathematics total supplemental biological/life sciences (390) science mathematics UC graduates earning a math or science credential are also, increasingly, CalTeach graduates In, CalTeach alumni accounted for nearly 47 percent of all the math and science credentials awarded to supplemental UC 2,000 baccalaureates, to 2014an increase in share of 7 percent over 1,500 California the previous year. 3 number of credentials 2, ,500 1, to 2014 UC CalTeach California UC CalTeach CalTeach graduates are enrolling in Teacher Education Programs In , 203 CalTeach graduates 2,471 pursued course teaching enrollment careers in UC and CSU Teacher Education Programs (TEP). Of those, ,386 course enrollment 163 enrolled in a math or science single subject credential program. UC TEP CSU TEP other STEM (124) physical sciences (156) 70 Math 59 Science 22 Other 4 25 Math 19 Math 15 Science 18 Other 4 CalTeach graduates computer pursue careers in public education science (10) interdisciplinary/ multiple STEM (55) engineering (95) 1,217 CalTeach STEM Undergraduates by Major mathematics/statistics (387) 1,742 participants 1,738 participants 1,643 participants 2,688 course enrollment Since the program s inception, nearly 1,436 CalTeach graduates have gone on to work in public schools throughout California, many in high-need communities biological/life sciences (390) Over 1,400 CalTeach alumni have pursued careers in public school districts throughout CA

5 ,386 course enrollment UC TEP 70 Math 59 Science PREPARATION 22 Other 4 CalTeach attracts 25 Math STEM majors systemwide 19 Math Across all UC campuses, the great majority of CalTeach CSU TEP 15 Science participants are majoring in STEM fields. In, nearly 70 percent of 18 participants Other 4 were STEM majors, with most majoring in the biological/life sciences or mathematics/statistics. DIVERSITY CalTeach graduates in STEM majors are highly diverse In comparison to all UC STEM majors, CalTeach graduates are more diverse across an array of demographic indicators, including gender, ethnicity and families college background. interdisciplinary/ multiple STEM (55) engineering (95) computer science (10) female CalTeach 59% UC 46% other STEM (124) physical sciences (156) 1,217 CalTeach STEM Undergraduates by Major mathematics/statistics (387) CalTeach participants are working in high-need schools biological/life sciences (390) In, CalTeach students participated in field placements in 198 K-12 schools where they gained real-world classroom experience. Although these field placements occurred throughout the state in schools with a variety of economic and educational characteristics, nearly 37 percent were low-performing and high-need schools based on the state s Academic Performance Index (API 1-5). underrepresented minorities 6 first-generation college student CalTeach 21% UC 16% CalTeach 42% UC 38% Consistent with the program s mission to prepare prospective educators that are themselves representative of the growing diversity of California s K-12 students, nearly 67 percent of CalTeach STEM graduates were students of color, including underrepresented minorities and students from Asian backgrounds. 2 California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Ibid. 4 Other includes enrollment in other single subject and multiple subject programs. 5 California State Teachers Retirement System, 2014; counties for 35 CalTeach alumni are undetermined. 6 Includes African American, Chicano(a)/Latino(a), American Indian and Alaska Native. FUNDING In addition to its state funding allocation, CalTeach programs on every campus are supported by a combination of government, foundation, private industry and other extramural sources. All CalTeach programs have received support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), through the NSF Noyce Scholars program and, in some cases, through NSF S-STEM grants, to provide scholarships, fellowships, stipends and programmatic support intended for the recruitment and preparation of STEM majors and professionals to become K-12 teachers. CalTeach has also been supported financially by private corporations such as Amgen, Agilent, Bechtel, Hitachi and JP Morgan Chase, and through partnerships with Math for America, 100Kin10, the National Math Education Advancement Foundation, the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the National Math and Science Initiative. Finally, each UC campus on which a CalTeach program resides provides significant monetary and in-kind resources through faculty and administrator time, classroom space, student scholarships and other kinds of support.

6 CalTeach programs are housed at each of UC s nine undergraduate campuses: Berkeley calteach.berkeley.edu Davis mast.ucdavis.edu Irvine education.uci.edu/calteach Los Angeles cateach.ucla.edu Merced calteach.ucmerced.edu Riverside smi.ucr.edu San Diego physicalsciences.ucsd.edu/programs/cal-teach Santa Barbara education.ucsb.edu/calteach Santa Cruz calteach.ucsc.edu University of California Office of the President Diversity and Engagement ucdiversity@ucop.edu ucop.edu/diversity-engagement Data sources for this report include the following: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) California Department of Education (CDE) California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) California State University University of California May 2015 University of California Office of the President