Secondary Teacher Preparation: Colorado

Analysis of Colorado's policies

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

Secondary teacher candidates may demonstrate content proficiency by either completing 24 semester hours of credit as demonstrated through transcript evaluation, or by passing a content assessment, either the Praxis II or the PLACE, in the endorsement area.

Regrettably, Colorado also allows both general science and general social studies licenses—and does not require subject-matter testing for each subject area within these disciplines (see Goals 1-G and 1-H).

To add an endorsement area to a license, secondary teachers in Colorado may also choose either 24 semester hours of credit or a content test.

Citation

Colorado Initial Teaching License-Approved Programs http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/Licensure_tch_approved.asp Adding an Additional Endorsement to a Valid License http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/Licensure_tch_approved.asp

Recommendations for Colorado

Require subject-matter testing for secondary teacher candidates.
As a condition of licensure, Colorado 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.
Colorado 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 coursework 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

Colorado recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. The state noted that neither the Colorado Department of Education nor the Colorado Department of Higher Education has received any complaints that teachers do not know their requisite subject matter.