ERIC Edinfo--Recruiting and Developing K-12 Teachers at Community Colleges

Recruiting and Developing K-12 Teachers at Community Colleges
EDINFO No. 2001-09
September 2001

This national study conducted by Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. (RNT) was intended to assess the status of teacher preparations programs at community colleges and the role that these programs might play in developing new teachers. A survey was sent to presidents and campus deans of 1,575 community colleges and branch campuses across the country. A total of 205 surveys were returned for a response rate of 13%. The low response rate was attributed to the selection of deans and presidents as survey recipients instead of program coordinators and the scarcity of teacher preparation programs in community colleges.

The Issue

Past research shows that among community college freshmen 9% indicate an interest in K-12 teaching, translating to over 500,000 interested students which is one quarter of the needed new teachers over the next ten years.
These students have the potential to diversify the teacher candidate pool, as many are first-generation and/or minority students.

Selected Findings

Though over 75% of responding teacher preparation programs reported that they had some form of articulation agreement with a four-year institution, articulation was still ranked as an important institutional barrier to success for students in these programs.
These programs serve a broad and diverse range of students. The average non-white participation rate was almost 40% and substantially higher than the national average of almost 14% in the current teaching force.
Though community college tuition is quite reasonable as compared to tuition at 4-year institutions, tuition was still considered a significant barrier for students.

Recommendations

Though articulation agreements are important, other elements are needed to increase transfer as those institutions with articulation agreements have only slightly higher transfer rates.
Due to the high percentage of students who are first-generation students, it is important to have effective counseling and a formal introduction to the local four-year institution.

To increase transfer it is important to have adequate funding, including scholarships and available financial aid for students.

This information was reported in ED448158, "Final Report (Revised) for the National Study of Community College Career Corridors for K-12 Teacher Recruitment" by Mildred Hudson. A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-99-CO-0010. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. ERIC EdInfos are in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.