California has a booming population but abysmal performance in K–12 education. These conditions mean that the state needs to hire both more and better qualified teachers, all while it runs a deficit in the billions. Certified or Qualified? How California’s Teacher Credentialing Process Harms Educational Quality examines the process of teacher certification and credentialing in California.
It details how the current system discourages potentially qualified candidates while accrediting many who, judging by the state’s weak academic performance, have no business in the classroom. The authors also evaluate the state’s efforts to streamline credentialing and discuss key reforms that would further enhance the state’s ability to attract and retain successful teachers.
