Repairing the Illinois High School Physics Teacher

1. Repairing the Illinois High School Physics Teacher Carl J. Wenning, PTE Coordinator, Illinois State University

2. Complete repair of any problem requires the following: • recognition that a problem exists. • correct identification of the problem source. • appropriate action aimed at repairing the problem. • must get at root cause for long-term solution. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

3. Teachers: A Growing Demand • The US Department of Education predicts that the nation will need more than one million new teachers by 2010 • Nearly half of the current teaching force of 2.6 million will leave teaching to retire or change careers in the next decade (NCES, 1998) • More than 1/4 of all current teachers are over age 50 and approaching retirement. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

4. On a National Basis… • The attrition rate of new teachers is approximately 10% to 50% over the first three to five years of teaching depending on type of preparation. (Darling-Hammond, 1998; Fuller, SBEC, 2002) • Currently there is not a general nation-wide shortage of teachers in the U.S. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

5. Nonetheless… • “We face shortages of people willing to work at the salaries and under the workingconditions offered in specific locations - in rural and urban areas.” (Darling-Hammond, 2001) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

6. Teacher Shortage Areas • Teacher shortages do exist in a few subject areas -- special education, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and Spanish in order of national demand (AAEE, 2003). • There is an adequate number of prepared and certified teachers to meet most of of the needs in other areas. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

7. AIP Statistics Research Center ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

8. Enrollments in HS Physics 1948 - 2001 ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

9. Girls as a Percentage of TotalEnrollment in HS Physics • Increases in HS enrollments are occurring primarily in conceptual courses. • In college courses, ~20% of enrollments in engineering -type courses is female. • In college courses, ~60% of enrollment in algebra-based physics courses is female. Female Enrollments in HS Physics ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

10. Percentage of Students Taking HS Physics by Group AIP Statistical Research Center ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

11. Physics Teaching Nationally • Only 61% of public high school physics teachers are endorsed to teach physics • Only 27% of private/parochial high school physics teachers are endorse to teach physics. • Only about 1/3 of all physics teachers majored in physics or physics education (Neuschatz & McFarling, 2001) • More than 50% of all high school physics teachers are teaching out-of-field -without a major or minor in physics (AIP, 1999) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

12. Science Excellence on a National and State Basis • 82% of our nation’s 12th graders performed below the proficient level on the NAEP 2000 science test and this number has increased from 79% since 1995 • The longer students stay in the current system, the worse they do. • 4th graders 2nd place; 12th graders 16th place • PSAE results? ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

13. PSAE Science Achievement • According to Illinois’ PSAE 2002-2003 (ISBE, 2003): • Only 51.3% of 11th graders met or exceeded the science performance standard • 38.0% of 11th graders fell below performance the science standard • 10.7% of 11th graders substantially below and received “academic warning” - unable to use science knowledge effectively. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

14. Student Performance • While there is no direct link between teaching performance and student success per se, careful teacherpreparation and subsequent high quality teaching are very important to overallstudentsuccess. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

15. IL Certified Physics Teachers • Growing demand - HS enrollments expected to grow through 2007; elementary demand remains level. • 64% of Illinois public high school physics teachers are endorsed to teach physics, but this is better than the national average. • 99% teach physics half time or more. (ISBE, 2004) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

16. Illinois Physics Teacher Supply (IBHE, 2004) • 123 districts report “severe under supply” • 67 districts report “under supply” • 33 districts report “adequate supply” • 4 districts report “over supply” • 4 districts report “sever over supply” • 400 districts did not report on supply ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

17. Physics Teacher Demand Applying “Average Statistics” • 440 public high school physics teachers • 93% return to teaching each year (409) • 7% leave teaching (31) • Open positions = 31 each year • 23 accredited PTE programs graduate only 8 - 12 new physics teachers annually • Actual situation is worse than this …. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

18. Projected Need - Physics Job Openings in IL (ISBE, 2004) • Supply in relation to demand suggests that 2/3 to 3/4 of all physics openings are filled by teachers with majors other than physics! ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

19. 1994 - 1995: 22 accredited PTE programs 8 programs reporting 3 institutions produced 50% grads 0.69 graduates per program average 50% had no students in the PTE major 2004 - 2005: 23 accredited PTE programs? PTE Production Statistics ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

20. High School Physics Intro at 4-yr Colleges and Universities 340K Physics Major Physics Bachelor’s 940K 7K 4K 120K Intro Physics at 2-yr College General Nature of Leakage THEM US Data AIP Statistical Research Center ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

21. Sources of Teachers… • Recruitment • “Native” students • Change-of-major students • Transfer students • 2nd degree students • Alternative certification programs • Retention in the major • Retention in the profession ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

22. Sources of PTE Majors -- the ISU Experience • Currently 33 PTE majors • Based on data from 1998-2004 • 23% “native” students (from high schools) • 46% transfer students (community colleges) • 31% second-degree students (universities) • High schools, community colleges, and universities all play an important role. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

23. Failure to Retain a PTE Major Generally Speaking • Inability or unwillingness of students (Success=Ability*Motivation*Effort - SAME) • Disillusionment of student with post-secondary physics teaching • Inadequacy of physics teaching program • Appeal of other majors • Predatory practices by other sequences within a department ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

24. Other Routes to Teacher Prep • Alternative Certification • National Programs: • Teach for America • Peace Corps • Troops to Teachers • Teacher Opportunity Corps • Problem: 90%+ in these latter program grads will have left teaching by the end of the 3rd year. • CF: 30% of traditionally-prepared (4-yr) teachers • CF: 10% of 4-year courses w/ 1-year STT ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

25. Retention in the Profession • Retention will not be solved by addressing only pay and benefits issues. • Teacher pay and benefits ranked third behind student attitudes and behavior, and treatment by school administrators. (Pisciotta, 2001) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

26. Additional Findings • 73% of the teachers who left the profession did not participate in an induction or mentoring program. (Piscotta, 2001) • “They’re not adequately prepared, and they’re put into a situation completely unsupported.” (Archer, 1999) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

27. Sources of Retention Problems with NYC Teachers (Darling-Hammond, 2001) ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

28. Illinois Teacher Retention • Largest supply of certificated IL teachers is the previous year’s work force - 93% returned in 2003 • The 2nd largest supply of IL teachers is the “first-time” teacher • The 3rd largest supply of IL teachers is the re-entering professional. • The 4th largest supply of IL teachers is the State’s alternative certification program. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

29. Teachers for Downstate Schools & the ISU Experience • Teachers tend to return to their home communities to teach. • There are very few downstate teacher candidates at ISU. • Salaries downstate are lower: (mean salary statewide is $51,500) • Downstate ~$23,000 to start • Metropolitan Chicago ~40,000 to start • Huge downstate need for physics teachers ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

30. ISBE Responds to NCLB “High Quality” Legislation • After 2006 or 2007: • New physics, chemistry, biology teachers become “science” teachers only • Endorsements to be replaced by designations • Any designation may teach ANY course not requiring an “introductory” course. • Only designations may teach AP or second year courses within their discipline. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

31. “CPR” for the Illinois HS Physics Teacher Pipeline • Which comes first - repair or retention? • Consider CPR - respiration or circulation first? • Respiration without a circulation is worthless. ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

32. Physics Pipeline “CPR” Goal 1: Repairing the Pipeline • Retention Questions: • Induction/mentoring programs? • Networking? • New teacher packets? • Improving PTE programs? • “Concentrating” PTE majors? • ISAAPT Policy Statements? • Work group recommendations? ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning

33. Physics Pipeline “CPR” Goal 2: Turning Up the Flow • Recruitment Questions: • Recruitment guidelines for HS teachers? • “Indentured servitude” plan for districts? • CC transfer agreements? • Grant-funded opportunities? • Loan forgiveness? • ISAAPT policy statements? • Work group recommendations? ISAAPT Special Session: C. Wenning