Professional Qualifications of Religion Teachers in Catholic High Schools in the United States

Abstract

This study assesses the professional qualifications of Catholic high school religion teachers in the United States. Qualifications that are addressed include academic background, state certification, and teaching experience. Religion teacher data come from The Next Generation: A Study of Catholic High School Religion Teachers. Data for other teachers are drawn from the Schools and Staffing Survey, 1999-2000. The research findings suggest two major conclusions. First, Catholic high school religion teachers are less qualified than other public and private school teachers in terms of academic preparation, pedagogical training, and teaching experience. Second, new religion teachers are even less qualified overall than other religion teachers except that a significantly higher percentage of new teachers possess an advanced degree in the field.