Achieving State-Wide Teacher Education Reform in Middle Level Teacher Preparation

Abstract

This article reports on a three-year, state-wide teacher education restructuring endeavor for the preparation of teachers at the middle level. The article reviews the need for specialized preparation for middle level teachers and overviews the work of the South Carolina Middle Level Project and the South Carolina Middle Grades School State Policy Initiative, along with the current status of middle grades teacher preparation and certification in South Carolina. Through this presentation, major collaborative efforts are identified involving colleges and universities, public schools and professional associations, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and the South Carolina Department of Education. Based on this information and efforts already made, the article offers a recommended plan for achieving state-wide reform in teacher preparation and gives specific focus to the preparation of teachers for middle level classrooms.