Secondary Teacher Preparation Policy
Content Test Requirements: Minnesota offers middle-level endorsements to teach grades 5-8 for: communication arts and literature,
mathematics, social studies and general science. All new middle school teachers in Minnesota are required to pass a Minnesota subject-matter test to attain licensure. Teachers with secondary certificates may teach grades 7 and 8 in those subjects for which valid licensure is
held.
Middle School Licensure Deficiencies: Unfortunately Minnesota allows K-6 elementary teachers to teach grades 7 and 8 in self-contained classrooms. Because middle school licensure deficiencies are scored in 3-B "Middle School Licensure Deficiencies," it is not considered as part of the score for the Middle School Content Knowledge goal.
Require subject-matter testing for all middle school teacher candidates.
Minnesota wisely requires subject-matter tests for most middle school teachers but should address any deficiencies that undermine this policy (see Goal 3-B: Middle School Licensure Deficiencies analysis and recommendations).
Minnesota declined to respond to NCTQ's analyses.
3A: Middle School Content Knowledge
Middle school grades are critical years of schooling. It is in these years that far too many students fall through the cracks. However, requirements for the preparation and licensure of middle school teachers can be especially problematic. States need to distinguish the knowledge and skills needed by middle school teachers from those needed by an elementary teacher. Whether teaching a single subject in a departmentalized setting or teaching multiple subjects in a self-contained setting, middle school teachers must be able to teach significantly more advanced content than elementary teachers. In order to do so, middle school teachers must be deeply knowledgeable about every subject they will be licensed to teach, and able to pass a licensing test in every core subject to demonstrate this knowledge.[1] The notion that someone should be identically prepared to teach first grade or eighth grade mathematics seems ridiculous, but states that license teachers on a K-8 generalist certificate essentially endorse this idea.