Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers

1. Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers Pennsylvania Education Policy Forum Philadelphia, November 10, 2006 Robert E. Feir, Executive Director

2. Teachers are the Future . . . Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

3. . . . Because Children are the Future “Teachers must succeed if students are to succeed, and students must succeed if society is to succeed.” Michael Fullan Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

4. Commission Organization • Appointed by Governor Rendell last August • 40 members • Met monthly (October-June) • 4 regional meetings and 1 teleconference • Meetings with interested groups • Surveys Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

5. HE presidents, deans, faculty, and students PK-12 teachers and administrators Teacher union and administrator leaders Parents, business, and community leaders Representatives of Governor and PDE 4 Legislators Commission Members Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

6. Commission Goals • Assure world class preservice teacher education • Link preservice and continuing professional education in PK-12 • Address need for quality teachers in shortage areas (subjects and districts) • Capitalize on “over-supply” Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

7. Commission Focus “Our concern has been to improve the education of tomorrow’s teachers so every child in Pennsylvania will have an opportunity to succeed in the high-skill, technological, diverse, global society that our students will be called upon to lead.” Commission Final Report Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

8. Commission Report • Approved by Commission June 9 • Finalized and printed in July • Presented to the Governor August 4 Available for download at: www.pateach.org Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

9. Findings – Opportunities • Large, diverse system of teacher education • General satisfaction with quality of new teachers – in Pennsylvania and elsewhere • Policies that generally support continued professional growth of teachers Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

10. Findings – Challenges • Shortage areas • Diversity – shortage of teachers of color • Better preparation for complex and diverse teaching environment • Improved partnerships between higher education and PK-12 Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

11. Findings – Challenges • Shortage areas • Math • Science • World languages • Special education • Hard-to-staff schools – urban (and to a lesser degree rural) schools – and retention issues Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

12. Challenges – Shortage Areas Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

13. Findings – Challenges • Diversity – shortage of teachers of color • 6% teachers of color • 24% students of color • Issue has become more pronounced during past decade Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

14. Challenges – Teacher Diversity Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

15. Findings – Challenges • Better preparation for complex and diverse teaching environments • Classroom management • Standards • Standardized test preparation • Differentiated instruction • Using assessment data to improve instruction • Technology Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

16. Challenges – Better Preparation Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

17. Findings – Challenges • Improved partnerships between higher education and PK-12 “We need to redefine teacher education from a 4- or 5-year collegiate experience to a 7-year collegiate and practice experience featuring increased quality of preservice programs, induction, and continuing professional education, as well as improved linkages among them.” Commission Final Report Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

18. Recommendations • Improve initial preparation, induction, and professional development • Respond to shortages of high quality teachers • Increase the economic competitiveness of teacher education • Improve data for state policy purposes Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

19. Recommendations • Improve initial preparation, induction, and professional development • University-based programs, especially clinical practice, and PDE oversight • Induction – 2 years and better focused ($$) • Innovations in transition to teaching ($$) • Professional development – more focused • Professional development schools ($$) • Differentiated staffing in schools • NBPTS support ($$) Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

20. Recommendations • Respond to shortages of high quality teachers • Math-science loan forgiveness ($$) • Math-science expansion pilot projects ($$) • More urban clinical experiences ($$) • Grow-your-own programs ($$) • Standardized intern certification programs • Reciprocity • District and university efforts to increase pipeline Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

21. Recommendations • Increase the economic competitiveness of teacher education • Specialized teacher education consortia in high-need areas ($$) • PASSHE out-of-state enrollment cap • Reciprocity • Previous recommendations on program improvements Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

22. Recommendations • Improve data for state policy purposes • Greater unification and accessibility – teacher certification and professional personnel data Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

23. Commission Report Available for download at: www.pateach.org Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers

24. Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Edward G. Rendell, Governor Robert E. Feir, Executive Director 2986 North Second Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 717/720-4239 rfeir@pateach.org www.pateach.org Governor's Commission on Training America's Teachers