Research
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Guardrails or Barriers
This white paper from the BU Wheelock Educational Policy Center seeks to summarize some of what we know from the literature and highlight related policy considerations surrounding teacher licensure.
Licensure Tests and Teacher Supply in Connecticut
This research project uses longitudinal data from Connecticut to examine the association between teachers’ performance on required subject-matter licensure tests (specifically, the Praxis II assessment suite) and their later effectiveness at improving student test scores. The authors then estimate the causal effect of failing a first attempt at one of these Praxis II tests on an individual’s likelihood of eventually becoming a licensed teacher in the state.
Evaluating Emergency Licensure in Massachusetts
To avoid pandemic-induced teacher shortages, Massachusetts implemented an emergency license, removing most traditional licensure requirements for individuals who wanted to become teachers. This research reports on initial impacts on composition and quality of the workforce.