Student Teaching in the Age of Accountability

• In Event: The Impact of High-Stakes Evaluation Systems for Teachers and Student Teachers on the Student Teaching Experience

Abstract

This study addresses the question: What are teacher educators’ perceptions of the impact of accountability measures on student teaching experience in teacher education programs in Florida? The theoretical framework combines governmentality, surveillance theory, and incentive theory to make sense of how accountability affects student teaching. Interviews were conducted with sixteen teacher educators and student teaching coordinators from nine CAEP-accredited institutions. Findings suggest that student teachers are often viewed by principals and teachers as a liability in terms of accountability, which results in fewer available placements and a reluctance to relinquish control of classrooms to student teachers. Further, participants expressed concern that pacing guides and scripted curricula prevent novices from developing the professional skills they need to be adaptive teachers.

Author

• Amy S Murphy, University of Georgia