NE Florida News

Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (FL-04) chaired a hearing titled “Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators.” In his prepared statement, Bean addressed the current state of America's teacher preparation pipeline.

Bean compared the situation to a warning light in a car. "Have you ever been in your car when you get an alert notifying you something is wrong? Let’s face it. There is no such thing as a good time for a warning light to signal a problem," he said. He emphasized that the education system is facing significant challenges, stating, "America’s teacher preparation pipeline is struggling."

He presented alarming statistics: "Eighty-six percent of public schools reported difficulties in hiring teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. Between 2020 and 2022, 16 percent of teachers left their schools. Teachers are feeling disheartened, and only 20 percent say they are very satisfied with their jobs. Just 16 percent would recommend the profession to others."

Bean suggested that part of the solution lies in making pathways into teaching more affordable and accessible. He noted that traditional programs can be costly and time-consuming, which discourages potential educators. "That’s why alternative certification programs are gaining traction as a more efficient, cost-effective way to get talented individuals into the classroom," he explained.

Highlighting innovative approaches, Bean pointed out Arizona State University’s (ASU) Next Education Workforce program. He stated that these new models have shown promising results in student growth and teacher satisfaction. "For example, third graders in ASU’s team-based teaching schools experience an extra 1.4 months of reading growth each year," he said.

Bean concluded by urging further expansion of such innovative ideas to improve teacher retention and satisfaction.

###