E3 Alliance’s Dr. Annelies Rhodes and Co-Author Dr. Michael Marder Publish Peer-Reviewed Study on Teacher Certification Pathways in Texas
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin, TX — Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – E3 Alliance is proud to announce that Dr. Annelies Rhodes, senior director of research, has recently published a significant study titled “Measuring the Value of Teachers from Traditional Certification Pathways in Texas: A Comprehensive Study.” This research has undergone rigorous peer review by the Education Policy Analysis Archives/Archivos Analíticos de Políticas Educativas/Arquivos Analíticos de Políticas Educativas (EPAA/AAPE) at Arizona State University.
Dr. Rhodes co-authored the study with Dr. Michael Marder, Executive Director of UTeach Natural Sciences and Director of the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, Department of Physics at The University of Texas at Austin.
The findings from this comprehensive study reveal a trend: for most subjects and grade levels, students learn significantly more from traditional or nonprofit program teachers. The number of teachers prepared through traditional university certification pathways in Texas continues to decline, while the number of teachers from alternative pathways is on the rise. This shift has potential implications for education across Texas.
“The goal of this work is to examine the outcomes of policy decisions made in Texas regarding pathways into the teacher workforce,” said Dr. Rhodes. “We aim to ensure a robust and qualified teacher workforce in Texas schools. This study specifically focuses on student learning outcomes by comparing two certification pathways. My hope is that we can leverage this knowledge to improve educator preparation and reduce barriers to entering the teacher pipeline.”
Dr. Rhodes’ colleagues at The University of Texas at Austin have continued this research by investigating the increasing trend of uncertified teachers in Texas through a project titled “Beyond the Tipping Point.” Furthermore, Dr. Rhodes and her team are continuing collaborative research efforts within the LONESTARP3 network to enhance teacher preparation in the state.
E3 Alliance is committed to using data-driven research to inform education policy and practice in Texas. The findings from this study serve as a vital resource for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders dedicated to improving the quality of education for all Texas students.
For more information about this research and its implications, please review the links below.
**END**
About E3 Alliance: E3 Alliance is a nationally recognized, data-driven education collaborative and solutions provider based in Central Texas. We work across the state to transform education systems through data and collaboration so all students succeed. We also work to increase economic mobility and the overall quality of life for our community through education system alignment from pre-K to the workforce.
Founded in 2006, we are a leader in collective impact, collaborating with 15 Central Texas school districts, seven higher education institutions, and numerous businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, policy leaders, students, and families.
About Education Policy Analysis Archives: A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal.
Access Article: https://epaa.asu.edu/index.php/epaa/article/view/8556/3430
YouTube Video Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWJWDgItQa4