Elementary Teacher Preparation in
Mathematics: Alabama

Analysis of Alabama's policies

Alabama relies on both coursework requirements and its standards for teacher preparation programs as the basis for articulating its requirements for the mathematics content knowledge of elementary teacher candidates.

Alabama requires elementary teaching candidates to earn at least 12 semester hours of credit in mathematics. The state specifies neither the requisite content of these classes nor that they must meet the needs of elementary teachers. Also, the state has recently adopted new teaching standards that its approved teacher preparation programs must use to frame instruction in elementary mathematics content. These standards appropriately address content in mathematics foundations but although they mention such areas as algebra, geometry and statistics, the standards lack the specificity needed to ensure that teacher preparation programs deliver mathematics content of appropriate breadth and depth to elementary teacher candidates.

Alabama also requires that all new elementary teachers pass a general subject-matter test, the Praxis II. This test lacks a specific mathematics subscore, so one can fail the mathematics portion and still pass the test. Further, while this test does include important elementary school-level content, it barely evaluates candidates' knowledge beyond an elementary school level, does not challenge their understanding of underlying concepts and does not require candidates to apply knowledge in non-routine, multi-step procedures.

Citation

Alabama Administrative Code 290-3-3-.02 (2)(a); 290-3-3-.03; 290-3-3-.06 www.ets.org/praxis "No Common Denominator: The Preparation of Elementary Teachers in Mathematics by America's Education Schools," NCTQ, June 2008 http://www.nctq.org/p/publications/docs/nctq_ttmath_fullreport.pdf

Recommendations for Alabama

Require teacher preparation programs to provide mathematics content specifically geared to the needs of elementary teachers.
Although Alabama teaching standards require some knowledge in key areas of mathematics, the state should require teacher preparation programs to provide mathematics content specifically geared to the needs of elementary teachers. This includes specific coursework in foundations, algebra and geometry, with some statistics. 

Require teacher candidates to pass a rigorous mathematics assessment.
Alabama should assess mathematics content with a rigorous assessment tool, such as the test required in Massachusetts, that evaluates mathematics knowledge beyond an elementary school level and challenges candidates' understanding of underlying mathematics concepts. Such a test could also be used to allow candidates to test out of coursework requirements. Teacher candidates who lack minimum mathematics knowledge should not be eligible for licensure.

State response to our analysis

Alabama recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. The state added that prior to approval, preparation programs must comply with the Alabama Quality Teaching Standards (AQTS) and requirements unique to elementary education. These standards specify mathematics literacy knowledge and ability requirements, while the standards unique to elementary education enlarge mathematics knowledge and ability requirements for prospective elementary teachers.

Alabama also noted that its elementary education program approval rules prescribe knowledge of "academic content and methods to plan and provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum for elementary students in accordance with the Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics." They also prescribe knowledge of "the major concepts and procedures that define number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability as stated in the Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics."  

Finally, the state pointed out that it is beginning to modify and enhance its testing requirements, and has already adopted several new tests as of August 1, 2011. This first group of new tests included a test of reading. The next group to be validated for use in Alabama will include a test that requires prospective elementary teachers to earn a passing score in each of four academic disciplines: English language arts, mathematics, science and social science.