How do we help first-year teachers manage their classrooms on day 1?
Making data on teacher preparation programs widely available, easily understood
Challenge
First-year teachers often face a significant learning curve. If new teachers are also underprepared, they are more likely to leave teaching, adding to the nationwide teacher shortage.
High-quality teacher preparation programs, including 4-year undergraduate and alternative programs for candidates who have an undergraduate degree, are key to ensuring that first-year teachers are ready to manage a classroom on day 1.
For more than 15 years, Westat has supported the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) efforts to collect data on about 2,000 teacher preparation programs across the country.
Solution
We help states collect, analyze, and report data on their teacher preparation programs. The data are available at the Title II Higher Education Act website, a site we maintain for ED. It includes state-by-state information on the
- Names of universities or organizations providing teacher preparation
- Enrollment trends
- Requirements for entry for each program
- Number of students who have met the program requirements
- Average passing rate of program participants
Results
The website allows state administrators, teacher preparation program administrators, prospective teachers, and members of the public to learn about state-approved programs.
State education administrators can use the data to guide their program evaluations. Prospective teachers can use the data to determine which preparation program might be a best fit for them.
Focus Areas
Education Educator EffectivenessCapabilities
Content and Product Development Technical AssistanceSenior Expert Contact
Carrie A. Murthy
Senior Research Associate
-
Perspective
Westat @ JSM 2025: Enriching Society with StatisticsJuly 2025
Westat staff will be participating in the 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM), the largest annual gathering of statisticians and data scientists in North America. Held…
-
Expert Interview
2026 ASA President Mulrow: Communities in Action Advancing SocietyJuly 2025
Jeri Mulrow, MS, Vice President and Sector Lead for Data Solutions at Westat, will serve as the 121st President of the American Statistical Association (ASA),…
-
Expert Interview
What Impact Is AI Having in Government Research?July 2025
With the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) in government research, questions regarding its impact on public policy and its ability to address today’s pressing…