Promising Mississippi Pilot Program Offers a New Pathway to the Classroom
The U.S. has long had too many barriers that keep talented prospective teachers out of the classroom, including the cost of a degree, low pay and limited growth opportunities. But perhaps one of the biggest — yet solvable — impediments is the reliance on exams to determine candidates’ readiness for teacher licensure. Thousands of promising educators, who are otherwise qualified to teach, are kept out of classrooms solely because of test results and the lack of alternative ways for them to demonstrate their readiness for the profession.
As the nation faces a teacher shortage that has reached an all-time high — with at least 36,000 vacant teaching positions — why not tap into a talented pool of educators who could help close that gap? The Mississippi Department of Education created a Performance-Based Licensure pilot to do just that, and the results are encouraging.
Read the full article at The 74.
Stay in the Know
Sign up for updates on our latest research, insights, and high-impact work.
"*" indicates required fields
Imali Ariyarathne, seventh-grade teacher at Langston Hughes Academy, introduces her students to the captivating world of science.
About TNTP
TNTP is the nation’s leading research, policy, and consulting organization dedicated to transforming America’s public education system, so that every generation thrives.
Today, we work side-by-side with educators, system leaders, and communities across 39 states and over 6,000 districts nationwide to reach ambitious goals for student success.
Yet the possibilities we imagine push far beyond the walls of school and the education field alone. We are catalyzing a movement across sectors to create multiple pathways for young people to achieve academic, economic, and social mobility.