Eric.ed.gov – Preparing STEM Teachers: The Key to Global Competitiveness

Like many sectors in society, the teacher preparation community is working to address challenges the nation faces in relation to global competitiveness. This document highlights institutions around the country that are preparing tomorrow’s teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Well-known shortages of qualified math and science teachers continue to exist in most states and districts across the country. Thus unprepared teachers are assigned to teach math or science “out of field,” although research shows that students learn more from mathematics and science teachers who studied teaching methods in the subject they teach than from those who did not. In addition, the annual turnover rates of both math and science teachers of 16% are the highest of all fields. Schools, colleges, and departments of education are aware of these challenges and developing programs to produce more and better teachers in the STEM fields. This publication profiles a selection of STEM teacher preparation programs at American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) member institutions. The programs described are not the only educator preparation programs at the institutions, nor are they the only STEM teacher preparation initiatives in higher education. The programs profiled in this publication are based on responses to a survey sent by AACTE to its member institutions in Spring 2006.