Statement by Sandra Feldman,
President, American Federation of Teachers,
on Improving Teacher Education Programs/Teacher Quality

Two years ago, the AFT issued Building a Profession: Strengthening Teacher Preparation and Induction, calling for higher standards for teachers and significant improvements that would more closely link teacher education programs with the real world of teaching. The U.S. Department of Educationâs report on teacher quality released today confirms many of our earlier recommendations. We agree that teacher education programs must be more relevant and that prospective teachers should be tested in the subjects they will teach. But teachers need more. They need quality hands-on experience and access to ongoing professional development and support. But unfortunately, current funding to accomplish this is inadequate. More resources must be available to improve teacher education programs and to attract the most qualified people to the teaching profession.

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