In an era of high-stakes teacher testing, schools are struggling to meet staggering demands for new teachers who are academically talented and diverse. Who are the new teachers? And how do their academic skills compare with those of their college peers? Researchers at ETS and ACT recently conducted a national study to find out.The researchers found that candidates applying for their teaching license, specifically those who pursue licensure in particular content areas, have reasonably strong academic skills, skills that are substantially higher than many previous researchers have suggested. However, the gender and ethnic composition of the teaching force does not come close to matching that of the K–12 student population. Ultimately, policymakers face a vexing decision in which they must weight the relative merits of academic ability and teacher supply, particularly with respect to the supply of minority teaching candidates.

What the Tests Tell Us About New Teachers

Andrew S. Latham

Drew Gitomer

Robert Ziomek

Assessment and grading

Professional development

Diverse classrooms and schools

School and district management

Research Link /  The Teacher-Student Mismatch

Whole Child: Supported

Research Link /  The Advantages of Bilingualism

Content area: Foreign languages

Research Link /  School Vouchers: Much Debate, Little Research

School improvement and reform

Assessment

Author

Andrew S. Latham

About

Expertise

Articles by Andrew S.

What the Tests Tell Us About New Teachers

Research Link / The Teacher-Student Mismatch

Research Link / The Advantages of Bilingualism

Research Link / School Vouchers: Much Debate, Little Research

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