Washington, D.C. -- In eliminating Title II, the PROSPER Act applies a sledgehammer to a situation that more appropriately calls for a scalpel. Teacher preparation is an important and complex endeavor and one in which the United States is currently failing, as evidenced by the fact that currently, on the first attempt, more than half of elementary teacher candidates are unable to pass their state licensing test after spending years and tuition dollars preparing to be a teacher. While Congress is right to question the efficacy of Title II, given that it isn't sufficiently delivering on its purpose of "improving the preparation of prospective teachers," it is heading the wrong way. By maintaining and improving Title II in HEA reauthorization, Congress has an opportunity to significantly and meaningfully reform these grants to require rigorous and transparent public reporting by programs. We strongly encourage Congress to do so.
To schedule an interview with Kate Walsh, President of NCTQ, please contact Nicole Gerber at (202) 393- 0020 ext. 117.
About the National Council on Teacher Quality
The National Council on Teacher Quality is a nonpartisan research and policy group, committed to modernizing the teaching profession and based on the belief that all children deserve effective teachers. We recognize that it is not teachers who bear responsibility for their profession's many challenges, but the institutions with the greatest authority and influence over teachers. More information about NCTQ can be found on our website, www.nctq.org.