Preparing Teachers Is CSU’s Top Priority

“Lack of Qualified Teachers Undermines State Reforms” (Dec. 12) underscores the drastic shortage of qualified classroom teachers in California. Missing from the story are the actions to help solve the crisis of fully prepared teachers. At the California State University system, which prepares 60% the teachers in the state, the issue is a top priority.

CSU is committed to reach, recruit and prepare prospective teachers to obtain credentials. Nearly 10,000 CSU students at 21 campuses received preliminary teaching credentials in 1999-2000, an increase of 12% from the previous year. A recent evaluation of our teacher education programs showed that 96% of the first-year graduates of teaching credential programs are working in K-12 public schools. The study also showed that 81% of the elementary school teachers trained at CSU campuses received high marks from their supervisors regarding their level of preparation to teach reading skills. And 80% of the school principals favorably evaluated the university’s preparation of elementary teachers in mathematics.

CSU is also advancing the Governor’s Teaching Fellowship, which provides $20,000 awards to prospective teachers to earn their credentials and then teach in one of California’s low-performing schools. Other programs include Cal State TEACH, which enables teachers who can’t attend a CSU campus to complete studies to obtain credentials via the Internet.

Charles B. Reed

Chancellor, CSU Long Beach