The influence of teacher preparation on student achievement and the application of national standards by teachers of mathematics in urban secondary schools

The influence of traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs on student achievement and instruction in high-need urban secondary schools was investigated through a mixed-method comparative design. Three research questions were addressed: (a) Does the type of teacher training influence the academic achievement of students in mathematics? (b) Does teacher preparation influence the implementation of the process standards set forth by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics? (c) Does the frequency with which teachers use process and content standards influence student achievement? Data from the standardized state test and district level quarterly assessments revealed a significant difference favoring the alternative preparation teachers on two measures of student achievement as well as the use of standard-driven instructional strategies. The findings suggest that alternative teacher preparation programs are a viable avenue to explore in meeting the needs of public schools for providing qualified teachers in mathematics classrooms at the middle and high school levels.