Educator preparation programs, the Tennessee
Department of Education, and the State
Board of Education each have a significant
responsibility to ensure that Tennessee’s next
generation of teachers enters the classroom
well prepared to improve student learning
and contribute toward narrowing achievement
gaps for historically underserved students. This
report finds both encouraging practices within
several EPPs to ensure effective preparation,
including providing teacher candidates with
strong classroom-based experiences and
multiple opportunities for EPPs, TDOE, SBE,
and school districts to enact improvements.
Most notably, there are several options to
increase collaboration between EPPs and school
districts, improve the licensure assessment
system, and enhance the racial and ethnic
diversity of the state’s teaching population. This
report’s recommendations identify the most
promising opportunities to advance educator
preparation in the state. Success will require
sustained efforts from all partners to ensure
that new teachers enter Tennessee classrooms
with the preparation they deserve and all our
students need.
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