ED480818 PS031555
Title: Better Teachers, Better Preschools: Student Achievement
Linked to Teacher Qualifications. NIEER Preschool Policy Matters,
Issue 2.
Author(s) Barnett, W. Steven
Pages: 13
Publication Date: March 2003
Notes: Produced by Rutgers National Institute for Early Education
Research.
Sponsoring Agency: Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia, PA.
(BBB28123)
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
Availability: National Institute for Early Education Research
(NIEER), Rutgers, The State University, 120 Albany Street, Suite
500, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Tel: 732-932-4350; Fax: 732-932-4360;
e-mail: info@nieer.org; Web site: http://nieer.org. For full text:
http://nieer.org/resources/policybriefs/2.pdf.
Language: English
Document Type: Opinion papers (120); Reports--Descriptive (141)
Geographic Source: U.S.; New Jersey
Journal Announcement: RIEMAY2004
Target Audience: Policymakers
Once they begin kindergarten, America's children are taught by
professionals with at least a four-year college degree. Prior to
kindergarten, their teachers are far less prepared. Fewer than half
of preschool teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and many have never
even attended college. Noting that new research finds that young
children's learning and development clearly depend on the educational
qualifications of their teachers, this policy brief examines the
relationship between student achievement and teacher qualifications,
and offers recommendations for improving teacher qualifications. The
brief summarizes the kinds of qualifications preschool teachers
actually need, and reviews research indicating the relationship
between teacher qualifications and program quality. The brief
concludes with policy recommendations, including the following: (1)
require preschool teachers to have a four-year college degree and
specialized training; (2) design professional development programs
enabling current early education teachers to acquire a four-year
degree; and (3) pay preschool teachers salaries and benefits
comparable to those of similarly qualified teachers in K-12 education.
(Contains 31 endnotes.) (HTH)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement; Bachelors Degrees; Compensation
(Remuneration); Early Childhood Education; *Educational Attainment;
*Educational Quality; *Preschool Teachers; Staff Development; State
Standards; Teacher Education; *Teacher Qualifications
