[Vision2020] Idaho Board Votes to Accept New Teacher Test for Licensure

Tue, 18 Nov 2003 08:19:22 -0800

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Idaho Board Votes to Accept New Teacher Test for Licensure

Idaho has become the second state to embrace a system of teacher =
certification that relies mostly on multiple-choice examinations as the =
main determinant of a new educator's skill.

The state board of education voted 7-1 last week to accept the Passport =
to Teaching test, which was developed by the Washington-based American =
Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence. Teachers need not =
complete a teacher-training program or take pedagogical coursework; they =
simply pass the test as a measure of their readiness for the profession.

The ABCTE, started in 2001 in part by the Education Leaders Council, a =
Washington-based group of state schools officials, contends that such a =
system will break down barriers into the teaching profession, allowing =
smart, qualified people to easily enter the field during a time of great =
need.

Critics, however, charge that the test does not adequately measure what =
teachers know and can do in the classroom. Pennsylvania was the first =
state to accept the system.

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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff><STRONG><FONT face=3DVerdana size=3D4>Idaho =
Board Votes to=20
Accept New Teacher Test for Licensure<BR><BR></FONT></STRONG><FONT =
face=3DVerdana=20
color=3D#000000 size=3D-3>Idaho has become the second state to embrace a =
system of=20
teacher certification that relies mostly on multiple-choice examinations =
as the=20
main determinant of a new educator's skill.<BR><BR>The state board of =
education=20
voted 7-1 last week to accept the Passport to Teaching test, which was =
developed=20
by the Washington-based American Board for Certification of Teacher =
Excellence.=20
Teachers need not complete a teacher-training program or take =
pedagogical=20
coursework; they simply pass the test as a measure of their readiness =
for the=20
profession.<BR><BR>The ABCTE, started in 2001 in part by the Education =
Leaders=20
Council, a Washington-based group of state schools officials, contends =
that such=20
a system will break down barriers into the teaching profession, allowing =
smart,=20
qualified people to easily enter the field during a time of great=20
need.<BR><BR>Critics, however, charge that the test does not adequately =
measure=20
what teachers know and can do in the classroom. Pennsylvania was the =
first state=20
to accept the system.</FONT>
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