Topic: Teacher Preparation

Why Teacher Induction Is the Missing Link in Educator Preparation – and How CarolinaTIP Is Getting It Right

ashley.shaw@sreb.org — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 18:37:00 +0000

Teacher induction is an important part of school leadership, but it can be difficult to know how best to run your induction program. In this post, we look at how CarolinaTIP’s induction program is doing things so well.

From Preparation to Practice:

Elizabeth Clay — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:44:00 +0000

Early-Career Teacher Experiences in Three Southern States

The Southern Regional Education Board and partner researchers at Vanderbilt University conducted interviews with 30 new teachers in three states in fall 2024 as part of our third study together on the teacher workforce. This post features five novice teacher profiles to highlight the complexity of beginning teachers’ journeys from preparation to teacher-of-record. These profiles reinforce the study’s key findings on the need for new teachers to feel supported in their roles through a comprehensive system of support from preparation to placement to their first years in the classroom.

Pathways and Retention for New Teachers

Beth Day — Tue, 20 May 2025 17:20:00 +0000

Insights from Southern States

[image:17906, w50 image right] Early-career teachers are entering the profession via an expanding variety of pathways. Do certain pathways provide more support than others? Do some entry routes into teaching yield higher rates of teacher retention? Why has early career teacher retention dipped so low and what can we do to change that?

A research partnership between SREB and Vanderbilt University explores these questions and more by analyzing state administrative data, survey results, and teacher interviews across three states in the South.

How Modernizing Teaching Will Recruit More Educators

Jahana.Martin — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:59:00 +0000

It’s no secret that fewer individuals are pursuing teaching as a career. SREB reports on this data annually. It’s on our minds so much so that SREB recently pursued research around this topic with Vanderbilt University to study teacher labor markets, Gen Z’s interest in the profession and their feedback on teacher working conditions.

SREB Takeaways on Teacher Compensation Data

Beth Day — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 04:37:00 +0000

Trends and highlights from our 2024 analysis

Teacher compensation is about more than just salaries. Each year, we track and analyze teacher compensation data across the SREB region — from salaries to health and retirement benefits to take-home pay. Here we highlight takeaways from our most recent analysis.

Teacher Career Pathways and Advancement Options

Beth Day — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:42:00 +0000

We need more high-quality pathways to ensure a skilled teacher workforce so that all students have prepared, certified teachers in every class. This report reviews the data on teacher shortages and quality and shows the four main pathways into the profession. It details the essential elements of quality teacher career pathways and offers examples to look toward from states around the nation.

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Teacher Labor Market Trends

Beth Day — Thu, 23 May 2024 14:43:00 +0000

Insights From Two Southern States

Teacher shortages, high turnover rates and declining interest in the teaching profession have proven difficult for policymakers to address. These concerns are even more dire in Southern states.

Partnering with researchers at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education, SREB studied data in Kentucky and Tennessee on teacher labor market trends over the last decade. This online report features seven findings with interactive charts.

The Next Generation of Teachers

Beth Day — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 06:54:00 +0000

A Study of Generation Z’s Interest in the Teaching Profession

We depend on Generation Z to fill the growing number of teaching vacancies. Partnering with researchers at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education, SREB studied data in Kentucky and Tennessee for insight into Gen Z and their interest in the teaching profession. This online report features six findings with interactive charts.

From Student to Teacher: A Descriptive Examination of High School Students’ Interest in Teaching Professions

Recruiting the Next Generation of Teachers: Challenges and Innovations

Jahana.Martin — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:09:00 +0000

Crafting programs and policies that address the teacher workforce requires knowledge of Gen Z, their interest in entering the teaching profession, and how to support them as new teachers. In this brief, the research team reviewed the literature on Gen Z’s background, interest in teaching as a profession, and what states and districts are doing to try and recruit them.

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How States Can Reduce College Debt for Future Teachers

melissa.pinsky@sreb.org — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 17:21:00 +0000

[image:11075, image w30 left]A major issue for my generation, the millennials, and for Gen Z as well is deep, suffocating student debt. For those who want to enter teaching, a career that is not compensated handsomely, this debt can be even more daunting.

Many teacher candidates work full- or part-time jobs in addition to attending classes. When they enter their student teaching period, whether for a semester or a year, these candidates are expected to give over their time fully to student teaching, which makes working nearly impossible.

State Policy Flexibilities in Response to COVID-19

melissa.pinsky@sreb.org — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 18:49:00 +0000

Avoid Failing the Next Cohort of New Teachers

With colleges and schools moving online to curb the spread of COVID-19, state leaders will need to act quickly to ensure that policies do not prevent student-teachers from graduating and becoming licensed to teach in the fall. This brief includes immediate and longer-term recommendations to prevent pandemic closures from escalating the teacher shortage crisis.

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State Reading and Math Requirements for Elementary Teachers

Samantha Durrance — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:31:00 +0000

SREB’s 2017 Ready to Read, Ready to Succeed and 2019 Early Math Matters reports explain the importance of well-prepared teachers in the elementary grades. These reports contain tables summarizing SREB states’ teacher preparation requirements in reading and math. The tables can be found below.

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Ready to Read, Ready to Succeed

Early Math Matters

DOWNLOAD READING REQUIREMENTS TABLE (REV MAY 2019)

DOWNLOAD MATH REQUIREMENTS TABLE (REV JUNE 2019)

Teacher Preparation Program Completion

Beth Day — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 23:40:00 +0000

Total by State, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19

In the SREB region, nearly 15,000 fewer teacher candidates completed teacher preparation programs in 2019 than in 2013, and all SREB states saw overall declines in program completion in the last decade.

Top orange bar: 2012-13
Second yellow bar: 2016-17
Third blue bar bar: 2017-18
Bottom brown bar: 2018-19 (the most recent available data)

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The Effects of Teacher Preparation and Training Options

melissa.pinsky@sreb.org — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 16:50:00 +0000

A Review of the Research

SREB reviewed research on the effects of various teacher preparation and training options. The brief includes a comparison of the impact on student achievement of traditional teacher preparation programs and alternative pathways. The report takes a look at how advanced degrees and certifications impact teacher effectiveness and retention.

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Educator Preparation Program Accountability in Selected States

melissa.pinsky@sreb.org — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 17:47:00 +0000

SREB conducted research on how states create performance accountability systems for teacher education programs. This brief describes how states go about developing performance measures and creating public report cards. The document’s appendix includes program accountability profiles for all SREB states and nine additional states.

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Using Data to Improve Teacher Preparation

Veronica Johnson — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 17:48:00 +0000

View webinar recording >

Panelists from several states share their insights about how outcomes data and formative evidence collected during clinical experiences can improve teacher preparation. The SREB Teacher Preparation Commission recommended policymakers implement statewide data systems that prompt program leaders to transform practice.

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Making Sense of Changes to Teacher Preparation and Licensure

Veronica Johnson — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 18:34:00 +0000

SREB state legislators introduced over 4,600 education bills in 2019 regular sessions. At least 850 of these bills will become law, with roughly one hundred this year relating to teachers and principals. Here’s how seven notable bills align with SREB’s Teacher Preparation Commission recommendations.

Spotlight on Clinical Experiences

Beth Day — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 13:51:00 +0000

How State Leaders Could Support High-Quality Clinical Practice

The SREB Teacher Preparation Commission called on state leaders to consider ways to improve the quality of teacher candidates’ classroom experiences. After consulting the research, Commission members learned that the length of a clinical experience is less important than ensuring that candidates are supported by effective mentors and supervised by university faculty who have experience in the classroom.

Giving Elementary Teachers the Tools to Teach Math Well

Veronica Johnson — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 14:29:00 +0000

Broad preparation can leave math-specific knowledge lacking

[image:9166, w50 image right] It’s no secret that aspiring teachers with strong math backgrounds tend to be drawn toward the secondary grades, where they can just teach math. In fact, results of the 2018 National Survey of Science and Math Education showed that just 3 percent of elementary teachers surveyed held a degree in mathematics or math education, compared with 45 percent of middle grades math teachers and 79 percent of high school math teachers.

Getting the Balance Right

Veronica Johnson — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:54:00 +0000

Reconsidering the Mix of Teacher Licensure Measures

The SREB Teacher Preparation Commission called on state leaders to adopt practice-based assessments. These tests assess candidates’ readiness to lead a classroom and to apply lessons learned during coursework and clinical experiences.

Practice-based assessments have diagnostic value, meaning they provide performance data that educator preparation programs can use to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. State agencies could use the assessment data to determine how they will provide technical assistance to preparation programs.