School districts used to be vigilant about ensuring teachers had state credentials. That no longer appears to be the case. Many online programs are unaccredited, and fast-track teacher preparation programs put almost anyone in the classroom with little educational background. However, a parent has the right to know who’s teaching their child.
If you’re a qualified teacher, proudly place your degrees on the classroom wall and include any awards or certificates demonstrating your expertise.
Here is a condensed post from the past that includes questions to ask teachers. The PTA might interview teachers to collect this information for the following school year so that parents can be well-informed about teachers in the school. Creating a directory with this information would make it less awkward and time-consuming for parents to find out this information when school starts.
- Do you have state certification in the subject you are teaching? This means that an elementary teacher should have qualifications from an accredited school to teach elementary school. In secondary schools, teachers should be credentialed in the subject they teach and have education courses that deal with that particular age group.
- Check on the State Online Certification Site. Most states have a certification list where you can check the teacher’s name and credentials. This should be done for charter and private schools, too.
- How much online instruction will take place? Is the teacher talking about blended learning? If so, what exactly will that mean for student instruction? How much actual teacher instruction will the student get?
- What is your background in special education or bi-lingual instruction? If general education teachers teach students who are gifted, twice-exceptional, have dyslexia, are ELL students, or have any disability, it’s important to determine if they have been prepared to teach from an accredited university. Some special education teachers come from Teach for America or other fast-track programs.
- How will you teach reading in elementary school? Student teachers should be able to briefly describe any programs they are using or how they will go about teaching reading. They should have a broad understanding of the methods involved with teaching reading and not be focused solely on a commercialized program.
- What college did you attend? Ask your child’s teacher where they went to school. Hopefully, it will be an accredited university that you’ve heard of. If you have never heard of the school, check it on the Internet. Look to see what kind of education program is offered. Not all college programs are alike.
- What is the protocol used if a student falls behind? Most schools provide graded lists of what is expected at each grade level.
- Do you have alternative certification? If so, ask what program it is from. I would be leery if they say Relay Graduate School of Education, Teach for America, Teaching Fellows, Apprenticeships, Grow Your Own Programs, or other fast-track training.
- Is a teacher from an alternative program due to shortages in the school district, what are they doing to learn how to be a better teacher? Are they taking classes to get certified?
- How long have you been teaching? If the teacher doesn’t have good credentials and also has not taught long, be concerned.
- How much standardized testing will be administered? How much time will be spent on test preparation? What are the opt-out policies if you don’t want your child taking the test/s?
- If the teacher is not credentialed and is a substitute teacher, ask how long they will be in the position. Children sometimes get stuck with a sub for a lengthy period of time, which is unfair.
If you are not satisfied with the answers, check with other parents. If possible, organize and approach the principal. Also, make it known to the PTA, district personnel, and the school board.
Parents need to demand qualified teachers and administrators.
Hopefully, all the teachers in your child’s school will be college graduates in education and appropriately credentialed by the state for what they teach. If not, drawing attention to the situation through letter writing and respectfully speaking out at school boards might help.
Teachers don’t graduate with degrees in education, usually. Undergraduate institutions don’t usually grant degrees in education.
This whole post seems to assume that too many teachers suck. It’s not the case.
And, if districts are hiring unqualified people, that’s a problem you should take up with them, not the people who got hired by them.
Teachers don’t graduate with undergraduate degrees in education anymore? When did that happen? Elementary?
I am concerned with Teach for America, Relay Graduate School of Education, and a large number of unaccredited online programs from for-profit schools. If teachers have the right stuff they should be pleased to share information about their background and experience.
I also added that to clarify my original statement in the post–a possible oversight on my part but maybe that helps.
I have suggested they hang their degrees proudly on the wall like a physician. And I am a retired teacher who is proud of the schools I attended and the experience I obtained. I look for ways to support real teachers everyday!
Also, the PTA is now funded by Bill Gates, and NO teacher needs to answer questions from the PTA.
You’re passing along seriously lame information.
Yes you are correct about Bill Gates. But a lot of local PTA groups are still working hard on behalf of children and teachers.
I also don’t think it is odd to have a staff directory for schools describing teachers and their backgrounds. Some schools might already do this, but if they don’t they should. Parents have the right to know who is teaching their children.
Is there a way for teachers to ask if parents are qualified or good parents?
This was a post to highlight teacher professionalism, not to pit teachers and parents against each other.
Great answer! Thanks for all your information on this topic!