University-Based Teacher Preparation and Middle Grades Teacher Effectiveness

Abstract

For over two decades, there have been calls to assess the relationship of the features of teacher preparation programs to teacher effectiveness, to provide guidance for program improvement. At the middle grades level, theory suggests that coursework in educational psychology is particularly important for teacher effectiveness. Using 4 years of data from 15 middle grades teacher preparation programs, this study estimates the relationship of their structural features, that is required elements of coursework and fieldwork, to student achievement gains in math and English/Language Arts. Findings suggest that few requirements are positively associated with achievement gains.