Elementary Teacher Preparation Policy
Mathematics Content Test Requirements: Beginning in Fall 2021, Michigan will offer early elementary (PreK-3) and upper elementary (grades 3-6) certificates. The Michigan Test for Teaching Certification (MTTC) Lower Elementary (PK-3) Education (117-120) test and Upper Elementary (3-6) Education (121-124) will be available for the PreK-3 and grades 3-6 certificates. These tests contain a separately scored math subtest.
Mathematics Preparation Standards: New preparation standards for the state's early elementary and upper elementary preparation programs address not only the content knowledge needed, but how to teach math content in areas such as: number concepts, addition and subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, place value, and whole numbers and operations, etc.
Provisional and Emergency Licensure: Because provisional and emergency licensure requirements are scored in Provisional and Emergency Licensure, only the test requirements for the state's initial license are considered as part of this goal.
Due to Michigan's strong policies in this area, no recommendations are provided.
Michigan was helpful in providing NCTQ with facts that enhanced this analysis. The state also noted that, the new Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for PK-3 and 3-6 grade bands will feature a non-compensatory subtest in mathematics content knowledge for teaching. The test is slated to become operational in 2021.
2B: Teaching Elementary Mathematics
Required math coursework should be tailored in both design and delivery to the unique needs of the elementary teacher. Aspiring elementary teachers must acquire a deep conceptual knowledge of the mathematics that they will teach, moving well beyond mere procedural understanding.[1] Their training should focus on the critical areas of numbers and operations; algebra; geometry; and, to a lesser degree, data analysis and probability.
To ensure that elementary teachers are well trained to teach the essential subject of mathematics, states must require teacher preparation programs to cover these four areas in coursework that is specially designed for prospective elementary teachers.[2] Leading mathematicians and math educators have found that elementary teachers are not well served by courses designed for a general audience and that methods courses also do not provide sufficient preparation.[3] According to Dr. Roger Howe, a mathematician at Yale University: "Future teachers do not need so much to learn more mathematics, as to reshape what they already know."
States' policies should require preparation in mathematics of appropriate breadth and depth and specific to the needs of the elementary teacher. Reports by NCTQ on teacher preparation, beginning with No Common Denominator: The Preparation of Elementary Teachers in Mathematics by America's Education Schools (2008) and continuing through the Teacher Prep Review, have consistently found few elementary teacher preparation programs across the country providing high-quality preparation in mathematics.[4] Whether through standards or coursework requirements, states must ensure that their preparation programs graduate only teacher candidates who are well prepared to teach mathematics.
Many state tests offer no assurance that teachers are prepared to teach mathematics. An increasing number of states require passage of a mathematics subtest as a condition of licensure, but many states still rely on subject-matter tests that include some items (or even a whole section) on mathematics instruction. However, since subject-specific passing scores are not required, one need not know much mathematics in order to pass. In fact, in some cases one could answer every mathematics question incorrectly and still pass.[5] States need to ensure that it is not possible to pass a licensure test that purportedly covers mathematics without knowing the critical material.
The content of these tests poses another issue: these tests should properly test elementary content but not at an elementary level. Instead, problems should challenge the teacher candidate's understanding of underlying concepts and apply knowledge in nonroutine, multistep procedures.[6] The MTEL test required by both Massachusetts and North Carolina remains the standard bearer for a high quality, rigorous assessment for elementary teachers entirely and solely focused on mathematics.