The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Teaching Quality." Contents include: (1) State Policy Recommendations for…

Unfortunately, far too many Arkansas students are being taught by teachers who are uncertified in the subject they are teaching. This report analyzes the extent and potential causes of Arkansas' teacher shortage and propose a series of recommendations for state policymakers. Two primary findings about the shortage were identified: (1) Shortages…

National shortages of math and science teachers have led to a variety of strategies and programs to attract second career professionals into teaching. This qualitative study explores the development of professional teaching identities in six STEM career changers in a post-baccalaureate pre-service teacher credential program in California. Findings…

Principals are very aware that there is a great deal of competition in attracting qualified teachers of mathematics to their school, since there are just not enough qualified mathematics teachers out there. Recent studies of the qualifications of teachers in Australian schools have confirmed that there is a crisis in the supply of qualified…

A teacher shortage in Hong Kong in core subjects, such as English, has led to interest in the recruitment and retention of second-career teachers. Drawing upon Wenger's (1998) theory of identity formation and using data from interviews with eight second-career English language teachers in Hong Kong, this paper explores how second-career teachers…

In North Carolina, where the state must hire 10,000 teachers every year just to fill existing classrooms, highly qualified special education teachers are included in the top three areas of greatest teacher shortage, behind math and science. Such needs, which include an increase in teachers from ethnic minorities, challenge teacher educators to…

This publication offers a sampling of strategies, resources, and tips for educators and policymakers engaged in the recruitment of mathematics, science, and special education teachers--specific to urban and rural schools and districts. These strategies and resources, when implemented effectively, can have a positive and lasting impact on the…

This paper discusses who will teach American children in the current political environment. Americans consider education a top political priority. The conversation must be moved from campaign rhetoric to real dialogue about education's critical role and the readiness of all schools to help shape the nation. Major trends transforming society…

This study describes a program at an urban public college that recruits non-education majors into teaching. The "Teaching Scholars Initiative" pays college students, in particular in the areas of mathematics and science, to work in high need New York City classrooms to assist teachers and their students, and gives these college students…

In considering the problem of raising the professional stature of the teaching profession, a review is presented of current statistics on: (1) shortages of mathematics and science teachers; (2) declining enrollment in teacher education programs; (3) widening gap in supply and demand for teachers; (4) current and future shortages of teachers; (5)…

Urban schools across the United States face a pervasive problem in their science and mathematics programs-a disproportionate number of the teachers in these classrooms are not certified, thus making them underqualified to teach these subject areas. Furthermore, urban schools deal with teacher shortages and attrition in these critical areas. The…

Contemporary educational thought holds that one of the pivotal causes of inadequate student achievement is the inability of schools to staff classrooms with qualified teachers. The primary sources of the problem of underqualified teachers are, most assume, deficits in the quantity of prospective teachers recruited and in the quality of preparation…

The low number of blacks either enrolling in teacher education programs or available for teaching positions has been documented in numerous studies. However, not only do black college students not choose education as often as other professions, but black high school students do not choose to attend college as readily as members of other minority…

Reviews efforts undertaken in Chicago to attract minority high school graduates into teaching careers in Catholic education through scholarships and other incentives. Also describes programs to retain qualified minority teachers and administrators, including workshops, a special degree program tailored to Catholic school teachers, and efforts…

Documented shortages of secondary mathematics and science teachers have occurred over a decade. Yet a program developed to enable individuals with academic preparation in mathematics and/or science to become teachers encountered difficulty in placing the students in paid teaching internships. Although benefits to school districts for participating…