Middle School Content Knowledge: District of
Columbia

Analysis of District of Columbia's policies

Content Test Requirements: All new middle school teachers in the District of Columbia are required to pass a single-subject Praxis II content test to attain licensure; a general content knowledge test is not an option. The District of Columbia also allows teachers to add a middle school endorsement to an elementary or secondary certification by either completing coursework or passing a content test.

The District of Columbia requires enrollment in but not completion of, a teacher preparation program in order to obtain an initial license.  While this initial license is non-renewable, it is valid for three years. Teachers must complete a teacher preparation program and complete other requirements, including passage of a basic skills test and a pedagogy test, in order to obtain a standard license.

Academic Requirements: The District of Columbia does not explicitly require a major or minor in the subject areas that candidates plan to teach.

Citation

Praxis Test Requirement www.ets.org DCMR 5-A 1601 and 1602 Educator Testing Flyer https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/Educator%20Testing%20Flyer%20as%20of%20March%2027%202017.pdf

Recommendations for District of Columbia

Ensure that content tests adequately measure sufficient knowledge in all subjects.
The District of Columbia should ensure that its subject-matter tests for middle school teacher candidates is sufficiently rigorous, the District should ensure that the required passing scores on each test reflect high levels of performance. Doing so will help to ensure that every student is taught by a teacher with adequate subject-matter knowledge.

Close the loophole that allows teachers to add middle-grade levels to an existing license without demonstrating content knowledge.
NCTQ urges the state to require that all teachers who add the middle-grade levels to their certificates pass a rigorous subject-matter test to ensure content knowledge of all subject areas before they teach in a classroom as the teacher of record.

Strengthen middle school teachers' subject-matter preparation.
The District of Columbia should encourage middle school teachers to earn two subject-matter minors. This would allow candidates to gain sufficient knowledge to pass District licensing tests, and it would increase schools' staffing flexibility. However, middle school candidates in the District who intend to teach a single subject should earn a major in that area.

State response to our analysis

The District of Columbia was helpful in providing NCTQ with facts necessary for this analysis. The District of Columbia also stated that it requires all candidates to demonstrate subject matter proficiency by passing the Praxis II subject content knowledge exams to meet educator preparation program's admission requirements. For subjects where a Praxis II subject content knowledge exam is not available or has not been adopted, programs must require candidates to hold a completed degree or its equivalent with a major in the subject area to demonstrate subject-matter proficiency for admission.

Updated: December 2017