As districts and schools struggle with persistent teacher shortages, many states have attempted to bolster the supply of teachers by loosening credentialing requirements or implementing fast-track programs that quickly bring new teachers into the classroom, often without student teaching or robust coursework about how to teach. Some states,…

Teacher residencies represent important opportunities to address teacher shortages while improving teacher preparation. Viewed as highly effective pathways by program graduates and their employers, residencies also provide robust financial and educational support, enabling them to attract diverse candidates who stay in teaching. California has…

Article focused on the training of teachers in the role of cooperative teacher. (RK)

A description is given of a 3-year project to improve the student teaching component of the teacher education program at the University of Arizona. The project focused on the improvement of selection and training of cooperating teachers and the development of a qualified corps of clinical faculty. Close collaboration between the college and the…

An exchange program allowing American students to do their supervised teaching in English schools is described. (JMF)

This paper describes a model of a field based or clinical experience program for prospective teachers. An overview of issues and concerns regarding field experiences and student teaching describes the traditional approach to supervised practice teaching. In a discussion of contemporary perspectives on student teaching programs, it is noted that…

Strategies for implementing changes that will improve the effectiveness of teacher education are discussed. These include: (1) redesigning curriculum by incorporating entrance and exit criteria and a performance-based emphasis, allowing for continuous assessment of the effectiveness of the curriculum and ensuring a more individualized and…

The Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia conducted a pilot project to establish and investigate the effectiveness of a Clinical Instructor Program. This program had the major goals of (1) improving the way clinical instructors (formerly cooperating teachers) were selected, trained, and rewarded, and (2) enhancing collaboration…

A junior level field based practicum course involving potential student teachers and their cooperating teachers is described. Students and teachers meet during the first week of the course in an informal, relaxing atmosphere to become better acquainted and to share procedures, expectations, and general information on the course. Student teachers…

This document presents the final report on the redesign and restructuring of the teacher education program at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. The project was begun in October 1985, and at about the same time, a task force, charged with examining the then current program, issued a report which referred to a research base for teacher…

This is a report of the development and implementation of a collaborative program at the University of New Hampshire which focuses on the preparation of public school cooperating teachers as more effective supervisors of both graduate student interns and undergraduate students who are exploring teaching as a career. Specifically, the program…

Proposals for extended teacher education programs are considered: (1) adding a year long internship to a four-year undergraduate program; (2) postponing professional training until a student has earned a B.A. or B.S.; and (3) requiring masters or doctoral degree programs in teaching for initial certification. (JN)

The Special Education Program at West Virginia University offers graduate degree/teacher certification programs in mental retardation, learning disabilities, and behavior disorders. Practicum experiences are included in the program, and have created a need for faculty supervision that could not be met by existing resources. A program was designed…

This paper describes a Goals 2000 project intended to redesign preservice teacher education, practicing teacher roles, and student learning experiences within a Professional Development School framework. The team includes teaching faculty from the University of Akron (Ohio) College of Education Department of Curricular and Instructional Studies,…

A report is given on the redesign of the teacher education program at Southeast Missouri State University, which will integrate both preservice and inservice teacher education into one continuous process. Changes in the program design include: (1) development of more rigorous requirements for admission; (2) identification and implementation of…