The current issue of the California Teacher Educator , the CTA Journal, focuses on the emergency teacher shortage that we have now and the situation as it will be in ten years. By the year 2008, California will need 200,000 to 300,000 new K-12 teachers. If the CSU does not develop a means to increase the number of teachers, the private sector will. Included in the handout distributed by Dr. Hopkins is an excerpt from the California Teacher Educator that discusses programs within the CSU that accelerate the credential process, identifies some new intern programs that have been developed, and describes the development of online interactive programs. In addition, videos are available that show teachers actually teaching in the classroom.
Salary needs to be improved in order to draw students to the teaching career.
Students will be coached by a faculty member on how to apply the information in the classroom. Every few years there is a new emphasis in the required teaching methods and content and teachers need to be prepared for such changes. According to state law, these people must enroll in a credential program and take at least six units per year toward their credential. This allows people to be in the classroom earlier and to use classroom information immediately. They have six years to get their credential.