A Think Twice Review of:

Within Our Grasp: Achieving Higher Admission Standards in Teacher Prep

Think Twice - Mar 23, 2017

Publisher/Think Tank - National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ)

Author(s) - Kate Walsh, Nithya Joseph and Autumn Lewis

A recently issued report from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) advocated raising the bar for entry into teacher preparation programs as a means to improve teacher quality across the country. The report reviewed the academic requirements at 221 institutions in 25 states, and argued for boosting entry requirements.

Reviewer(s) - Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Boston College; Megina Baker, Project Zero, Harvard University; Wen-Chia Chang, Boston College; M. Beatriz Fernández, Alberto Hurtado University, Chile; and Elizabeth Stringer

The review team cautions that the report is based on ‘cherry-picked’ citations, which “ignore a substantial body of research that either provides conflicting evidence or shows that the issues are much more complex and nuanced than the report suggests.” They add: “Ultimately the report offers little guidance for policymakers or institutions.”