Study Finds New Teachers Rate High in Skills, Knowledge

A new study by Educational Testing Service and ACT Inc. offers research data to refute the myth that teachers perform below their fellow college graduates.

In a detailed analysis of SAT scores, ACT scores and college GPAs for prospective teachers, the report says that the academic skills of candidates seeking teacher licenses are as strong as, if not stronger than, their college peers. These results remain constant even in high-need content areas such as mathematics and science.

NEA President Bob Chase hailed the report for examining the qualifications of new teachers and their performance on licensing exams and finding "what we've known all along: America's teachers are current in their knowledge and competent in their skills." For more on this topic, go to a statement by NEA President Bob Chase or a news release from ACT.

Posted May 14, 1999