How Do Preservice Teachers View Tenure and Accountability?

Abstract

Little research has examined preservice teachers’ views on tenure and accountability. This study used a 35-item survey to investigate 89 preservice teachers’ attitudes toward both. Most valued tenure and recognized the importance of ensuring teacher quality. Fewer than one third saw mentoring or collaboration as ways to improve their teaching—surprising in an apprenticeship program. The authors argue for better alignment between teacher preparation and inservice accountability measures, and the importance of inservice mentoring and feedback.

Key words:

• assessment/evaluation/measurement/testing
• foundations and history of education
• legal issues
• personnel services
• teacher education/certification