Thirty years ago, "Problems, process, and promise: Reflections on a collaborative approach to the solution of the minority teacher shortage" (Goodwin, 1991) offered a perspective on an approach to the "minority" teacher shortage. That piece represented the start of the author's life-long work on teacher preparation, with a…

An understanding of one's intention to pursue a career related to special education is crucial yet there is limited research in this area. This study examined factors that influence teacher candidates' intention to pursue a career in special education by surveying 214 preservice teachers. Data were analyzed using path analysis to capture…

Florida's testing program appears to be counterproductive to increasing the number of minority teachers. The high school diploma test, the ACT/SAT, university and teacher education admission score requirements, the "rising junior" test, and teacher certification and examination represent serious obstacles to minority students who want to teach.…

Few studies have addressed the effects of teacher education generally, no less the specific program elements necessary to prepare competent and caring teachers. As a result, to address teacher shortages in science, mathematics, and special education, alternatives to traditional preparation have been proposed, and their development has proceeded…

Illustrates how teacher educators are caught up in ill-conceived, often contradictory policies and practices, providing examples of contradictory demands emanating from outside and within the academy. The paper discusses professional standards and how teacher shortages influence the way quality-control practices in teacher preparation are…

A survey of state directors of teacher certification was conducted in 1986 to obtain opinions on national standards for teacher certification, teacher testing, teacher career ladders, and other current issues. Findings are summarized. (MT)

An investigation into the discrepancy between the educational experiences of the exceptional student and the current preparation programs available to special educators led to an experimental model that serves as a comprehensive undergraduate special education program for competencies in behavior disorders, mental retardation, and specific…

This paper describes the work of a nine-college consortium that aimed to address the minority teacher shortage. The consortium's beginnings, aims, and activities are presented. The collaborative process is analyzed in terms of nine factors that have been identified in the literature as contributors to effective collaboration. (Author/IAH)

Changes in schools and teacher education programs are interrelated and involve political, economic, social, and educational reforms. This article explores the current situation of the teaching profession and discusses the importance of incentives. (DF)

The critical need for minority teachers is discussed and descriptions given of the social, educational, and political conditions that militate against increasing minority enrollments. False hopes for enhancing minority student involvement are highlighted, and realistic approaches to recruiting and preparing minority teachers are outlined. (JD)

Evidence suggests a modest relationship between advanced study and teaching effectiveness. Cost analysis of a Virginia proposal to require universal master's degrees concludes that such a requirement is an inefficient school improvement method. The impact of such requirements on teachers, schools of education, teacher shortages, and attrition are…

Problems caused by teacher surpluses and shortages, particularly those resulting in out-of-field teaching assignments, should be corrected. School districts, teacher education institutions, state agencies, and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education should act to improve the situation. (PP)

The need to attract academically talented students to teacher education and to retain these teachers in fields such as mathematics, science, English, and foreign language teaching is discussed. Honors programs in teacher education offer one means of recruiting and holding superior students. (PP)

Many universities share the belief that the traditional four-year teacher education program provides insufficient time to prepare a professional, well-educated teacher, and are considering the adoption of an extended teacher education program. The program should focus on field experiences. (JN)

In light of a documented shortage of candidates for teacher education faculty positions, this article explores the academic labor market for teacher education faculty using job announcements from the Chronicle of Higher Education and a survey of search chairs to examine the qualifications sought. The authors conclude that the demand for teacher…