Decades of research have established the most effective way to teach reading so that nearly every child can become proficient. Yet studies consistently find that many elementary teachers have not learned these research-based methods. As states set more rigorous requirements for literacy instruction, the teacher workforce may not be fully prepared to meet those requirements. But with the right preparation, teachers can enter the classroom ready to teach reading without the need for intensive additional professional development.

NCTQ recently released ratings of nearly 700 elementary teacher preparation programs across the country on the Reading Foundations standard. This standard and resulting ratings are grounded in research, expert input, and the views of the education community about what new teachers need to know. Learn about whether teacher prep programs are teaching scientifically based reading instruction across the country, and how to find prep programs with strong instruction in reading in your state and states nearby.

This presentation will also touch on how to find ratings on other Teacher Prep Review standards including Elementary Mathematics, Classroom Management, Clinical Practice, and Diversity to help direct teacher recruitment efforts.

Learning Outcomes:

• Know how to use NCTQ's teacher preparation review tool to understand how well institutions in their state are preparing teacher candidates, and how to find programs that offer stronger, more research-based preparation.

• Know the hallmarks of strong teacher preparation in reading instruction, as well as elementary mathematics and other important areas.

Speakers:

Hannah Putman is the National Council on Teacher Quality's Managing Director of Research. She ensures that NCTQ's analysis is grounded in a strong research basis and methodology, and her work includes analyzing the teacher pipeline and licensure standards, highlighting state and district policies on topics such as teacher evaluation, and evaluating teacher preparation in areas including content knowledge and classroom management. Hannah comes to NCTQ after conducting education research with Westat, a social science research company. Previously, Hannah taught seventh and ninth grade English for three years in New York as a Teach For America corps member. Hannah holds BA's in English and Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, an MS in Teaching from Pace University, and an MPP from the George Washington University with a focus on education policy and evaluation.

Christie Ellis serves as the Director, Special Programs, with NCTQ, supporting special programs including the Teacher Prep Review and Hire Smarter. She came to NCTQ after four years as a third grade English Language Arts teacher. Christie holds a MS in Educational Studies from Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Anthropology and Cognitive Science from Case Western Reserve University.