Book Description

This study used data from the ongoing Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study to examine college graduates' preparation for and entry into teaching, as well as their movement into and out of the profession over time. Text, seven figures, and 15 tables detail the data on the "teacher pipeline"; examine who enters it (such as race/ethnicity and gender); provide data on undergraduate academic experiences of teachers including major field of study, type of postsecondary institution attended, college entrance examination scores and grade point averages, and undergraduate and advanced course taking; and also look at early teaching experiences. The report reaches the conclusion that graduates who enter the teacher pipeline differ both demographically and academically from those not in the pipeline, and notes that these differences have tended to overshadow differences among types of teachers. The report lays the groundwork for future studies analyzing persistence in teaching, and voices the hope that further development of empirical criteria will allow better evaluation of teacher postsecondary education and teacher professional development. Statistical data are presented in 27 compendium tables. Also included are two appendixes: one a glossary that defines the variables, and the other containing technical notes and explaining the methodology. (CH)