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Repairing the Illinois High School Physics Teacher. Carl J. Wenning, PTE Coordinator, Illinois State University. Complete repair of any problem requires the following:. recognition that a problem exists. correct identification of the problem source.
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Repairing the Illinois High School Physics Teacher Carl J. Wenning, PTE Coordinator, Illinois State University
Complete repair of any problem requires the following: • recognition that a problem exists. • correct identification of the problem source. • appropriate action aimed at repairing the problem. • must get at root cause for long-term solution. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Teachers: A Growing Demand • The US Department of Education predicts that the nation will need more than one million new teachers by 2010 • Nearly half of the current teaching force of 2.6 million will leave teaching to retire or change careers in the next decade (NCES, 1998) • More than 1/4 of all current teachers are over age 50 and approaching retirement. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
On a National Basis… • The attrition rate of new teachers is approximately 10% to 50% over the first three to five years of teaching depending on type of preparation. (Darling-Hammond, 1998; Fuller, SBEC, 2002) • Currently there is not a general nation-wide shortage of teachers in the U.S. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Nonetheless… • “We face shortages of people willing to work at the salaries and under the workingconditions offered in specific locations - in rural and urban areas.” (Darling-Hammond, 2001) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Teacher Shortage Areas • Teacher shortages do exist in a few subject areas -- special education, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and Spanish in order of national demand (AAEE, 2003). • There is an adequate number of prepared and certified teachers to meet most of of the needs in other areas. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
AIP Statistics Research Center ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Enrollments in HS Physics 1948 - 2001 ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Girls as a Percentage of TotalEnrollment in HS Physics • Increases in HS enrollments are occurring primarily in conceptual courses. • In college courses, ~20% of enrollments in engineering -type courses is female. • In college courses, ~60% of enrollment in algebra-based physics courses is female. Female Enrollments in HS Physics ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Percentage of Students Taking HS Physics by Group AIP Statistical Research Center ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Physics Teaching Nationally • Only 61% of public high school physics teachers are endorsed to teach physics • Only 27% of private/parochial high school physics teachers are endorse to teach physics. • Only about 1/3 of all physics teachers majored in physics or physics education (Neuschatz & McFarling, 2001) • More than 50% of all high school physics teachers are teaching out-of-field -without a major or minor in physics (AIP, 1999) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Science Excellence on a National and State Basis • 82% of our nation’s 12th graders performed below the proficient level on the NAEP 2000 science test and this number has increased from 79% since 1995 • The longer students stay in the current system, the worse they do. • 4th graders 2nd place; 12th graders 16th place • PSAE results? ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
PSAE Science Achievement • According to Illinois’ PSAE 2002-2003 (ISBE, 2003): • Only 51.3% of 11th graders met or exceeded the science performance standard • 38.0% of 11th graders fell below performance the science standard • 10.7% of 11th graders substantially below and received “academic warning” - unable to use science knowledge effectively. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Student Performance • While there is no direct link between teaching performance and student success per se, careful teacherpreparation and subsequent high quality teaching are very important to overallstudentsuccess. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
IL Certified Physics Teachers • Growing demand - HS enrollments expected to grow through 2007; elementary demand remains level. • 64% of Illinois public high school physics teachers are endorsed to teach physics, but this is better than the national average. • 99% teach physics half time or more. (ISBE, 2004) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Illinois Physics Teacher Supply (IBHE, 2004) • 123 districts report “severe under supply” • 67 districts report “under supply” • 33 districts report “adequate supply” • 4 districts report “over supply” • 4 districts report “sever over supply” • 400 districts did not report on supply ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Physics Teacher Demand Applying “Average Statistics” • 440 public high school physics teachers • 93% return to teaching each year (409) • 7% leave teaching (31) • Open positions = 31 each year • 23 accredited PTE programs graduate only 8 - 12 new physics teachers annually • Actual situation is worse than this …. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Projected Need - Physics Job Openings in IL (ISBE, 2004) • Supply in relation to demand suggests that 2/3 to 3/4 of all physics openings are filled by teachers with majors other than physics! ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
1994 - 1995: 22 accredited PTE programs 8 programs reporting 3 institutions produced 50% grads 0.69 graduates per program average 50% had no students in the PTE major 2004 - 2005: 23 accredited PTE programs? PTE Production Statistics ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
High School Physics Intro at 4-yr Colleges and Universities 340K Physics Major Physics Bachelor’s 940K 7K 4K 120K Intro Physics at 2-yr College General Nature of Leakage THEM US Data AIP Statistical Research Center ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Sources of Teachers… • Recruitment • “Native” students • Change-of-major students • Transfer students • 2nd degree students • Alternative certification programs • Retention in the major • Retention in the profession ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Sources of PTE Majors -- the ISU Experience • Currently 33 PTE majors • Based on data from 1998-2004 • 23% “native” students (from high schools) • 46% transfer students (community colleges) • 31% second-degree students (universities) • High schools, community colleges, and universities all play an important role. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Failure to Retain a PTE Major Generally Speaking • Inability or unwillingness of students (Success=Ability*Motivation*Effort - SAME) • Disillusionment of student with post-secondary physics teaching • Inadequacy of physics teaching program • Appeal of other majors • Predatory practices by other sequences within a department ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Other Routes to Teacher Prep • Alternative Certification • National Programs: • Teach for America • Peace Corps • Troops to Teachers • Teacher Opportunity Corps • Problem: 90%+ in these latter program grads will have left teaching by the end of the 3rd year. • CF: 30% of traditionally-prepared (4-yr) teachers • CF: 10% of 4-year courses w/ 1-year STT ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Retention in the Profession • Retention will not be solved by addressing only pay and benefits issues. • Teacher pay and benefits ranked third behind student attitudes and behavior, and treatment by school administrators. (Pisciotta, 2001) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Additional Findings • 73% of the teachers who left the profession did not participate in an induction or mentoring program. (Piscotta, 2001) • “They’re not adequately prepared, and they’re put into a situation completely unsupported.” (Archer, 1999) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Sources of Retention Problems with NYC Teachers (Darling-Hammond, 2001) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Illinois Teacher Retention • Largest supply of certificated IL teachers is the previous year’s work force - 93% returned in 2003 • The 2nd largest supply of IL teachers is the “first-time” teacher • The 3rd largest supply of IL teachers is the re-entering professional. • The 4th largest supply of IL teachers is the State’s alternative certification program. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Teachers for Downstate Schools & the ISU Experience • Teachers tend to return to their home communities to teach. • There are very few downstate teacher candidates at ISU. • Salaries downstate are lower: (mean salary statewide is $51,500) • Downstate ~$23,000 to start • Metropolitan Chicago ~40,000 to start • Huge downstate need for physics teachers ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
ISBE Responds to NCLB “High Quality” Legislation • After 2006 or 2007: • New physics, chemistry, biology teachers become “science” teachers only • Endorsements to be replaced by designations • Any designation may teach ANY course not requiring an “introductory” course. • Only designations may teach AP or second year courses within their discipline. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
“CPR” for the Illinois HS Physics Teacher Pipeline • Which comes first - repair or retention? • Consider CPR - respiration or circulation first? • Respiration without a circulation is worthless. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Physics Pipeline “CPR” Goal 1: Repairing the Pipeline • Retention Questions: • Induction/mentoring programs? • Networking? • New teacher packets? • Improving PTE programs? • “Concentrating” PTE majors? • ISAAPT Policy Statements? • Work group recommendations? ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning
Physics Pipeline “CPR” Goal 2: Turning Up the Flow • Recruitment Questions: • Recruitment guidelines for HS teachers? • “Indentured servitude” plan for districts? • CC transfer agreements? • Grant-funded opportunities? • Loan forgiveness? • ISAAPT policy statements? • Work group recommendations? ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning