Teachers' Preparation Experiences from Coursework to the Classroom: Findings from the 2022 Learn Together Survey

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Doan, Sy

Contributor:

Berdie, Lisa

Language:

English

Other Title:

Teachers' Preparation Experiences from Coursework to the Classroom

Place of Publication:

RAND Corporation 2023

Summary:

Policymakers and researchers have dedicated increasing attention to the state of the kindergarten-through-grade 12 (K–12) teacher preparation programs (TPPs) amid concerns over potential teacher and staff shortages in many school districts and states. With many districts and states facing staffing challenges and declining levels of both interest in teaching and attainment of teaching credentials, quick action is needed to restore the health of the K–12 teacher pipeline, and TPPs play a central role in that effort. In this report, the authors look at responses from a nationally representative sample of 3,606 K–12 teachers who took the 2022 Learn Together Survey (LTS) to see what teachers said about how well their TPPs provided the training, experiences, and resources needed to transition to the classroom. Specifically, the authors report on teachers' experiences and supports during three phases: (1) entry into their programs; (2) their experiences while in their programs, specifically their access to content expertise and supports for completing their programs; and (3) transition to the teaching workforce. The authors examine teachers' access to such supports and perceptions of their helpfulness, highlighting significant differences among teachers by race or ethnicity and years of experience. This analysis is meant to describe the preparation experience of the current K–12 teaching workforce and not, necessarily, the current state of K–12 TPPs. With that in mind, the authors discuss the implications of key findings and recommendations to promote a robust teaching workforce.