Study: 90 percent of colleges fail to prepare math teachers

A national study by an advocacy group contends that almost nine out of 10 college education programs fail to adequately prepare prospective elementary teachers to handle math instruction.

Among the schools from Virginia included in the study are Norfolk State University and Radford University, both public institutions, and two private schools, Hampton University and the University of Richmond.

The Washington-based National Council on Teacher Quality, which describes itself as a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization, said it will release a full report Thursday. In an announcement Friday, the group said it looked at math preparation at 77 education schools in 49 states - including entrance and exit requirements, course content, textbooks, tests and state licensing exams - and found 87 percent to be deficient.

Kate Walsh, president of the council, declined Friday to provide further details until the full report is released.

The announcement said only that the four Virginia schools failed on all counts, although Radford would have passed if it required more coursework. It also said that Virginia's requirements were weak, although its standards were strong.

The council noted that Virginia, unlike many states, requires math preparation for elementary school teachers - 12 semester hours or, typically, four courses, according to the state Department of Education. The topics aren't specified. The council recommended that Virginia mirror Massachusetts by requiring at least three courses in foundations of mathematics, algebra, geometry and data analysis, and improve its oversight of state standards.

Misti Goodson, a Norfolk State University spokeswoman, said no one was available to comment Friday. Goodson said early childhood/elementary education majors at NSU are required to take at least four math courses: contemporary math, intermediate algebra and two courses on teaching math in elementary schools.

Charles Pyle, a Virginia Department of Education spokesman, said the department typically doesn't comment on reports it hasn't read.

He said Virginia's fourth-graders have improved over the past decade on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, beating national averages. In 2007, 87 percent tested at or above the basic level, 42 percent at or above the proficient level, and 7 percent at the advanced level, according to results on NAEP's Web site.

The teacher quality council said its study helped show why national fourth-grade math scores have stagnated since 1995 on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. U.S. students placed 12th out of 25 participating countries in 2003, the most recent year.

Representatives of the other three Virginia schools were unable to comment Friday.

Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-3893, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com