Alternative teacher certification routes compared in the IES studies: highly selective (Teach For America, Teaching Fellows) and less selective routes¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 6 claims (6 for) · 4 studies (3 causal, 1 associational), q3 · 1 of 4 report an effect size · 6 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The brief organizes two IES studies around a selectivity distinction among alternative teacher routes. Highly selective routes are Teach For America and the Teaching Fellows programs, while "less selective alternative routes that accept nearly all applicants" form the other tier; both are compared against traditional routes on student test scores. The selectivity tier is the organizing axis for the reported findings.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Teachers entering via the alternative routes being evaluated, compared with teachers from traditional routes

Constraints¶

• Findings summarized cover elementary teaching, secondary math, and the named programs only

Target Learners¶

• K-12 students in disadvantaged schools

Target Learning Goals¶

• Student achievement in elementary and secondary math subjects

Claims¶

• Elementary students taught by teachers from less selective alternative routes had test scores similar to peers taught by traditional-route teachers [+M]
• Secondary math students taught by Teaching Fellows teachers had test scores similar to peers taught by traditional-route teachers [+M]
• Secondary math students taught by Teach For America teachers outperformed peers taught by traditional-route teachers by 0.06 standard deviations [+M]
• Students with alternatively certified teachers did no worse on achievement tests than students with traditionally certified teachers [+M]
• Secondary math teachers from Teach For America and the Teaching Fellows programs are as effective as teachers receiving traditional certification [+M]
• The findings contradict claims that alternative teacher preparation programs such as Teach For America harm students [+M]

Related Elements¶

• Mathematica random assignment study of alternative routes to teacher certification
• Teach For America alternate-route teacher preparation program
• IES Research Conference presentation on teacher certification route evaluation

Examples¶

• Use selective alternative certification routes as one lever for staffing disadvantaged schools, with expectations calibrated to route selectivity

Key Sources¶

• Melissa Clark, Sheena McConnell, Jill Constantine, Hanley Chiang. (2013). Addressing Teacher Shortages in Disadvantaged Schools: Lessons from Two Institute of Education Sciences Studies. NCEE Evaluation Brief, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/