High Country Times

Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (R-FL) chaired a hearing titled "Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators." During the hearing, Bean made several remarks on the state of teacher preparation in the United States.

"Have you ever been in your car when you get an alert notifying you something is wrong? Let’s face it. There is no such thing as a good time for a warning light to signal a problem. Having your morning commute interrupted by a mechanical failure is an inconvenience at best and a downright emergency at worst. But the warning lights are there to help signal that action should be taken," Bean stated.

Bean highlighted significant issues within the K-12 education system. "I like to consider myself to be a very optimistic person, but I will say this: When it comes to our K-12 education system, we are facing a giant 'WARNING!'"

He cited alarming statistics about teacher retention and satisfaction. "America’s teacher preparation pipeline is struggling. And I’ll be blunt: the numbers are alarming. Eighty-six percent of public schools reported difficulties in hiring teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. Between 2020 and 2022, 16 percent of teachers left their schools. Teachers are feeling disheartened, and only 20 percent say they are very satisfied with their jobs. Just 16 percent would recommend the profession to others."

Bean pointed out that traditional teacher preparation programs can be costly and time-consuming, which discourages many prospective teachers from entering the profession. "Part of the solution is more affordable, accessible pathways into the classroom," he said.

He noted that alternative certification programs offer an efficient way to bring talented individuals into teaching roles. "That’s why alternative certification programs are gaining traction as a more efficient, cost-effective way to get talented individuals into the classroom," he added.

Bean also emphasized retaining teachers by providing better support and innovative structures within schools. He mentioned Arizona State University’s Next Education Workforce as an example of reimagining traditional teaching models for better outcomes.

"For example, third graders in ASU’s team-based teaching schools experience an extra 1.4 months of reading growth each year, and Algebra I students pass at rates four to seven percentage points higher than their peers in traditional classrooms," he explained.

Bean concluded by calling for continued efforts to expand innovative models across other institutions like Appalachian State University.

"We must continue to press harder and expand these ideas further," he said. "It’s time to think boldly and spotlight changes that will not only bring more people into the teaching profession but will also ensure that they want to stay there."

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