Tag: Teacher Preparation

Navigating the Future: Insights from Louisiana’s Teacher Preparation Data

The Louisiana Department of Education has recently unveiled the 2023 data for the Teacher Preparation Quality Rating System, marking a significant milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of teacher preparation programs, according to this news release from LDOE. This system, mandated by federal regulations, serves as a crucial tool for teacher preparation providers to glean insightful information for improvement. Simultaneously, it empowers aspiring educators with the means to make informed decisions when selecting top-notch programs.

In the extensive library of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), one can now explore the Quality Rating Scores from the 2020-2021 school year. Remarkably, these scores have reached their pinnacle since the system’s initiation in the 2017-2018 academic year. The data paints a positive picture, with over 95 percent of Louisiana’s teacher preparation provider programs either maintaining or advancing their ratings.

Delving into the specifics, the state’s undergraduate pathway achieved a score increase of 0.6, reaching a commendable 2.6, classified as Level 3 Effective. Similarly, the post-baccalaureate pathway witnessed a boost of 0.4, securing a 2.8, also categorized as Level 3 Effective. To grasp these nuances, it’s essential to comprehend that an undergraduate teacher preparation pathway entails the completion of a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree program. On the other hand, a post-baccalaureate pathway is tailored for individuals with an existing Bachelor’s degree seeking alternative certification.

An encouraging trend emerges as post-baccalaureate pathways consistently outperform their undergraduate counterparts. The data reveals that 78% of pathways either improved their score or maintained the same, and an even more impressive 85% increased their level or maintained it. Additionally, more than half (52%) of the pathways elevated their domain score for Meeting Workforce Needs, emphasizing a critical aspect of teacher preparation.

What sets this year apart is the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (BESE) decision to utilize the results for ongoing program approval decisions. Unlike previous years, where the data served informational purposes only, 2023 signifies a pivotal shift towards a more action-oriented approach.

Understanding the significance of a teacher preparation program is vital. These are post-secondary, state-approved courses of study, indicating that enrolled teacher candidates have fulfilled all state educational and training prerequisites to be recommended for initial certification. The Teacher Preparation Quality Rating System evaluates providers on a four-point scale: Level 1 Ineffective, Level 2 Needs Improvement, Level 3 Effective, and Level 4 Highly Effective.

This rating is grounded in three domains:

These domain-specific insights are indispensable tools for aspiring teachers in choosing programs that align with their needs. Moreover, they aid providers and the LDOE in making informed decisions regarding the necessary support for continuous improvement.

It’s worth noting that the LDOE’s commitment to transparency and guidance for educators is not a recent development. In 2021, the initial results of the Teacher Preparation Quality Rating System were shared, and the year before, the collaborative effort of the LDOE, Louisiana Board of Regents, and BESE resulted in the launch of LouisianaTeacherPrep.com. This online platform serves as a valuable resource for prospective educators, facilitating the selection of a teacher preparation program that best suits their aspirations.

In conclusion, Louisiana’s Teacher Preparation Quality Rating System data for 2023 reflects a positive trajectory, showcasing advancements in teacher preparation programs. The focus on transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement is evident, reinforcing the state’s commitment to fostering a high-quality education system.

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LDOE Releases Data from Teacher Preparation Quality Rating System

Programs designed for teacher preparation in the Educational workforce will now have a new data-driven tool in their ever-growing arsenal, according to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Education.

When the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, also known as BESE, established the Teacher Preparation Quality Rating System in 2017, the 27 teacher preparation programs across the state had to tweak their programs, curriculums, and methods to account for the new rating system. The system, which is required by federal regulations, is designed to provide teacher preparation providers with meaningful information that they can use to identify programs of excellence, improve their program, and to reward specific providers for meeting the needs of Louisiana’s educator workforce.

As of the first week of March 2021, the first round of information results received from the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years has been released by LDOE, and the initial data proves to be promising for the future of Louisiana educators. The data highlighted numerous positive trends in a majority of Louisiana ‘s teacher preparation programs, such as:

  • Within just the past 18 months, 43 percent of teacher preparation programs sought approval from the Board to train teachers in high-need certification areas.
  • More than 50 percent of aspiring educators who had completed a residency in a high-need school were retained in a high-need school for the following year, creating a much-needed pipeline of talent for the state’s highest-need schools.

BESE President Sandy Holloway called the provided initial data “very encouraging,” saying, “We are seeing that educator training providers are working to strengthen their programs and more state-approved, quality providers are coming online. Going forward, Louisiana’s rating system and the valuable information it generates will help ensure that these positive trends in educator preparation, readiness and retention continue. A stronger teaching profession in Louisiana results in stronger outcomes for students.”

Not only is this data indicative of more prepared teachers exiting the state’s preparation programs, but it’s only the first wave of data from two years of school. While this data is publicly available now at LouisianaTeacherPrep.com, they will only be used for informational guidance and purposes for the time being. It won’t be until 2023 that the results from the Teacher Rating System will be used by BESE to inform continued program approval decisions.

When speaking on the efforts made recently, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley said, ““I commend the efforts over the last few years to build this informational system. This system will help inform the public, recognize success and provide a basis for continuous improvement.”

While the LDOE states that this preliminary data will be used in an informative capacity, that is also to say that this baseline data will be shared with the state’s teacher preparation programs. According to the Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed, the data provides “valuable feedback to our teacher preparation programs illuminating both best practices as well as areas in which students’ learning experiences can be improved.”

As of November of 2020, the LDOE launched LouisianaTeacherPrep.com, which has already begun to prove beneficial to not only the programs it’s directed towards but to the state’s future workforce. The site serves as a “one-stop-shop” where prospective educators can view data on all of Louisiana’s offered Teacher Preparation Programs, helping them find the right provider to suit their needs.

These programs designed to prepare teachers are post-secondary, state-approved courses of study, including both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate pathways. Completion of such a program signifies that an enrolled teacher candidate has met all training and state educational requirements to be recommended for initial certification.

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