Commentary
Last week both U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and MinnCAN Executive Director Vallay Varro offered their congratulations to Minnesota for leadership in creating alternative pathways into teaching.
In addition, both said we need better data and stronger accountability for teacher preparation programs if we want to assure that every Minnesota child has a highly effective teacher every year.
They're both right. When it comes to increasing the learning of all students and closing achievement gaps, nothing in school matters more than the effectiveness of teachers.
In the next 10 years, nearly half of our teachers will leave the profession. Some of their replacements will come through the alternative pathways opened up by this new legislation.
But the majority will come from programs housed in our universities. The quality and accountability of these programs must be our top concern if we are to successfully prepare our next generations to succeed in a globally competitive world.
And here's the great news: Eleven universities in Minnesota -- joined by two in North Dakota and one in South Dakota -- are stepping out ahead to show the way. These 14 universities have formed the Network for Excellence in Teaching (NExT).
This is the only network of its kind in the country that is bringing together higher education and K-12 schools to rethink how new teachers are recruited, prepared, placed and supported.
