Tougher teacher preparation standards about to take effect
University System of Georgia’s top teacher producers, 2012
Institution, Number, Percent
Kennesaw State University, 695, 14.6
University of Georgia, 610, 12.8
University of West Georgia, 400, 8.4
North Georgia College and State University*, 360, 7.6
Valdosta State University, 350, 7.4
Georgia Southern University, 286, 6.0
Armstrong Atlantic State University, 246, 5.2
Augusta State University**, 212, 4.5
Georgia College and State University, 208, 4.4
Source: University System of Georgia
* merged with Gainesville State College in 2013
** merged with Georgia Health Sciences University in 2013
Becoming a teacher in Georgia is about to become more difficult.
Starting in February, tougher standards will be implemented for teacher-training programs. The new rules, announced this week, include a program-effectiveness measurement, changes in certification, and consequences for programs that fail to meet the mark.
That’s fine, state teacher groups say, as long as the rules are the same for everyone, including private and alternative teaching programs such as Teach for America, a national nonprofit organization.
“It may be some adjustment, but while the University System (of Georgia) wants to do this to improve teacher quality, (school) systems are hiring people who come from five-week programs,” said Tracey-Ann Nelson, lobbyist for the Georgia Association of Educators. “What we are saying is, are the best products coming from the University System or those that circumvent the traditional programs? We can’t have on one side this rigor and accountability, but on the other side none, and act like all is fair.”
Teachers who have taken the traditional route to the classroom have criticized the use of programs like Teach for America for filling positions with short-term teachers while career teachers are laid off.
A Teach for America representative was contacted but failed to comment.
Kelly Henson, executive secretary of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, said no teacher-training program, whether state-run or private, will be exempt.
“The same rules will be applied across the board to all providers,” he said.
The changes — the result of a four-year effort by the Professional Standards Commission, the University System and the state Department of Education — will take about 18 to 24 months to fully implement.
The new standards coincide with the state’s Complete College Georgia initiative that aims to improve graduation rates and better prepare students for college-level work. They are also a nod to a projected stream of retiring teachers.
The University System will roll out a new data-driven teacher preparation accountability report in conjunction with the changes. The annual reports will assess the University System’s teacher programs for accreditation status and employer and graduate satisfaction. The first report is due in May.
Teacher programs will be assigned to four categories ranging from exemplary to low-performing. Programs that don’t meet the new measures after the first year will be downgraded and could ultimately close after three years of unsatisfactory progress.
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