Progressive Nation

Issue date: 9/30/09 Section: Opinion

The Residency Model



Fortunately, there could be a better, and cheaper, way to train our teachers: residency programs. High-performing charter schools like MATCH Public Charter High School in Boston and some of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) schools across the country use residency programs to prepare recent college graduates for the rigors of teaching in demanding environments. Linda Mikels, the principal of Sixth Street Prep in California, wrote in a New York Times feature, "while most aspiring teachers hope to develop [their] skills through university coursework, in reality the most effective training is acquired through an apprenticeship at a high-performing school with a highly effective classroom teacher."

While research is not yet available on the effectiveness of teachers trained in residency models, existing residency programs already excel at retaining their new recruits. Urban Teacher Residency United, for example, retains 85% of its graduates in their host schools beyond the initial three-year commitment. Aides for President Obama have called the program's retention rate a "significant accomplishment," according to Education Week.

Retention of motivated, energetic new teachers is crucial, especially in high-need areas that typically experience elevated teacher turnover. Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study indicates that students who experienced teacher turnover during the school year scored lower on national tests. Teacher attrition also prevents schools from instituting and maintaining a positive school culture or new professional development initiatives. If residency programs can improve retention, it will be much easier for schools to apply and maintain Race to the Top's recommended curricular and cultural changes-especially those that emphasize teacher accountability for the success of all students.



Teach For America: Already the National Teacher Corps?



For Princeton students, Teach For America (TFA) might seem like the only National Teacher Corps we need. But TFA and a newly-created NTC would not compete for the same applicants, although there would be some overlap. TFA's acceptance rate is extremely low, while most people who are motivated to enter the teaching profession can get into an education graduate school. The NTC would provide an alternative career path for undergraduates and recent graduates who demonstrate dedication and passion but do not necessarily have the grades, scores, and skill set to be accepted by TFA. And while some of the brightest TFA grads leave to become investment bankers or lawyers, using the prestige of TFA to boost their résumés, the NTC would be a less-selective program with a stronger retention component.

Continued...

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