Secondary Teacher Preparation in Science:
Iowa

Analysis of Iowa's policies

Iowa offers a general science endorsement; candidates must complete 24 semester hours of coursework  that includes biological science, chemistry and physics. Teachers with this license are not limited to teaching general science but rather can teach any of the topical areas. The state also offers a physical science endorsement, which requires 24 semester hours in physical sciences and includes coursework in physics, chemistry and earth science. Regrettably, secondary teachers in Iowa are not required to pass a content test.

Middle school teachers in Iowa must complete a science concentration, which requires 12 semester hours of coursework that includes life science, earth science and physical science. Middle school teachers in Iowa are also not required to pass a content test.

Citation

Iowa Administrative Code 282-13.27(3); 13.28(17)

Recommendations for Iowa

Require secondary science teachers to pass tests of content knowledge for each science discipline they intend to teach.
Although coursework plays a key role in teachers' acquisition of content knowledge, it should be accompanied by the requirement of an assessment, which is the only way to ensure that teachers possess adequate knowledge of the subject area.

Require middle school science teachers to pass a test of content knowledge that ensures sufficient knowledge of science.

State response to our analysis

Iowa recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.