Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of Dec. 3, 2014

Comments of The Education Trust
Docket ID ED-2014-OPE-0057

These are The Education Trust’s comments on the U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking posted on Dec. 3, 2014.

Teachers are the most important in-school factor for student learning. Good teachers are critical to raising student achievement and closing the gaps that separate low-income students and students of color from their peers. Yet far too many teacher preparation programs fail to adequately address either the demands educators will face once they graduate or the needs of surrounding school districts.

This inattention is unfair to educators, who are sent into classrooms without the knowledge and skills they need to educate all students to college- and career-ready levels. And it is devastating to students, especially the low-income students and students of color who are most likely to be taught by newly minted teachers.  In too many cases, the kids who most desperately need the very best teachers are assigned those who are least equipped to grow their knowledge and skills.