Teaching ETS Policy Notes: News from the ETS Policy Information Center NTE
- Author(s):
- Coley, Richard J. (Ed.)
- Publication Year:
- 1991
- Source:
- ETS Policy Notes, v3 n2, Spr 1991
- Document Type:
- Periodical
- Page Count:
- 8
- Subject/Key Words:
- Teacher Quality, Teacher Evaluation, Praxis Series, Educational Policy, National Teacher Examinations (NTE), Minority Groups Teachers, Beginning Teachers, Elementary School Teachers, Employment Patterns, Licensing Examinations, Professional Development, Secondary School Teachers, Teacher Certification, Teacher Education, Teacher Qualifications, Teacher Shortage, Teaching Occupation, Higher Education, Teaching (Occupation)
Abstract
This issue of ETS Policy Notes (Volume 3, No. 2) reviews recent studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Three sections are included. The first section--"Enough Good Teachers?"--examines teacher availability and concludes that there currently is an undeniable shortage of minority teachers. However, there are some encouraging signs of renewed interest in teaching among college students, and there is evidence of improvement in the quality of teachers. The second section--"Characteristics of Minority NTE Test Takers"--reviews the background and achievements of minority group members (chiefly Black and Hispanic teacher candidates) who take the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) tests. A study of successful and unsuccessful candidates found that strong academic preparation and support programs are essential for development of prospective minority teachers. The third section--"Good Teaching: How Is It Defined?"--introduces the successor to the NTE (the Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers). The new assessments will examine four broad areas: (1) content knowledge for teaching; (2) teaching for student learning; (3) the classroom community for student learning; and (4) teacher professionalism. The new assessments reflect the metaphor of teachers as managers of classroom life. Three figures are included.