Secondary Teacher Preparation: Arizona

Analysis of Arizona's policies

Arizona does not ensure that its secondary teachers are adequately prepared to teach grade-level content. 

Although secondary teacher candidates whose primary assignments are in academic subjects are required to pass content tests, the state articulates that if an assessment is not offered in a particular subject, then an approved area will consist of a minimum of 24 semester hours of subject-related coursework. In addition, although Arizona offers a general science license, it fails to offer a content test in this area. Further, the state offers a general social studies license but does not require subject-matter testing for each subject area within this discipline (see Goals 1-G and 1-H).

Arizona also articulates that secondary candidates may satisfy the subject-knowledge requirement with a master's degree in the subject area, or a valid certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Secondary teachers in Arizona may add approved areas to their licenses as outlined above.

Citation

Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-607, -615 Requirements for Secondary Certificates http://www.ade.az.gov/certification/requirements/TeachingCerts/RequirementsforSecondaryCertificate.pdf

Recommendations for Arizona

Require subject-matter testing for secondary teacher candidates.
As a condition of licensure, Arizona should require its secondary teacher candidates to pass a content test in each subject area they plan to teach to ensure that they possess adequate subject-matter knowledge and are prepared to teach grade-level content. 

Require subject-matter testing when adding subject-area endorsements.
Arizona should require passing scores on subject-specific content tests, regardless of other coursework or degree requirements, for teachers who are licensed in core secondary subjects and wish to add another subject area, or endorsement, to their licenses. While a degree—even an advanced degree—may be generally indicative of background in a particular subject area, only a subject-matter test ensures that teachers know the specific content they will need to teach.

State response to our analysis

Arizona asserted that the approved area of general science only allows teachers to be appropriately certified to teach general science at the high school level. The state added that teachers must have the appropriate science content as an approved area to be appropriately certified. Arizona currently has AEPA exams for the following science content areas: biology, chemistry, earth science, middle grades general science and physics.  

Last word

The issue of general science is addressed more fully in Goal 1-G. Arizona should ensure that its requirements do not make it possible for secondary teachers to be licensed to teach any core subjects with insufficient content knowledge.