Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

NCTQ To Release 2018 Teacher Prep Review

  • 04/05/18

Who: National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a non-partisan research and policy organization dedicated to ensuring every classroom has an effective teacher.

What: NCTQ's 2018 Teacher Prep Review which rates 567 traditional graduate programs, 129 alternative route programs, and 18 residencies preparing both elementary and secondary teachers.  The Review rates these programs on a number of factors, including how well they cover teachers' knowledge of subject matter, classroom management, and the need for practice. 

Unfortunately, our ratings found that both traditional graduate and alternative route models compare unfavorably with undergraduate teacher preparation models, presuming too much about candidates’ grasp of the subject matter they will be teaching without providing the additional support needed to account for their lack of knowledge. With the high number of new teachers in the workforce, particularly in schools that serve traditionally-underrepresented students who need additional support, it is imperative that programs provide prospective teachers with the proper support from their prep programs to become effective first-year teachers. 

Programs rated in the top 10 nationally include INSPIRE Texas (top alternative route elementary program), CUNY - Hunter College in New York (top graduate secondary program), and Richmond Teacher Residency (top residency program). 

About the National Council on Teacher Quality:

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) is a nonpartisan research and policy group, committed to modernizing the teaching profession and based on the belief that all children deserve effective teachers. NCTQ is the nation’s expert on the quality of teacher preparation programs and evaluates national teacher education against evidence-based criteria. More information about NCTQ can be found on our website, www.nctq.org.

Featured

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Schedules Grand Opening for New Welcome Center

    Indiana Wesleyan University recently announced that it will soon open a new Welcome Center on its campus in Marion, Ind., according to a news release. The facility will serve as the home base for prospective students and their families to learn more about the university and student life there. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for February 19.