Elementary Teacher Preparation in
Mathematics: Indiana

Analysis of Indiana's policies

Indiana is commended for its new teacher content standards that require its teacher preparation programs to ensure that "elementary teachers have fundamental computation skills and a broad and comprehensive understanding of fundamental concepts and processes of mathematics and demonstrate the ability to provide content-specific instruction" in algebra, geometry and other key areas of mathematics.

Indiana has recently adopted the new Praxis II "Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects" content test, which will report a specific subscore for mathematics. 

Citation

http://www.doe.in.gov/educatorlicensing/pdf/ElementaryGeneralist.pdf www.ets.org/praxis "No Common Denominator: The Preparation of Elementary Teachers in Mathematics by America's Education Schools," NCTQ, June 2008 http://www.nctq.org/p/publications/docs/nctq_ttmath_fullreport.pdf

Recommendations for Indiana

Ensure that new test is a rigorous mathematics assessment.
Indiana should make certain it is assessing mathematics content with a rigorous assessment tool, such as the test required in Massachusetts, that evaluates mathematics knowledge beyond an elementary school level and challenges candidates' understanding of underlying mathematics concepts. 

State response to our analysis

Indiana recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. The state added that it has contracted with Pearson to provide all the new teacher licensure exams, and one of the first ones they are developing is a more rigorous math exam. The test will be customized based on the state's new standards, and the plan for implementation is September 1, 2013. It will be a multi-subject test but will have a separate subscore for math. Further, all sections must be passed prior to licensure.  

Last word

NCTQ looks forward to reviewing the state's progress in future editions of the Yearbook.