Since 1998, the federal government has attempted to increase the accountability for preparation programs by requiring states to collect and report information about the programs, including completion rates, average scores on state and national teaching tests, and the number of student teaching hours required. (hechingerreport.org)
Nationwide, traditional teacher preparation programs required an average of 514 student teaching hours during the 2008 - 09 academic year, according to the U.S. Department of Education, far less than the average of 901 required that year by alternative programs that are not based out of universities. (hechingerreport.org)
The common shortcoming of these policies is that they focus on inputs — such as curriculum, faculty credentials, and student teaching hours. (educationnext.org)