Policy Report

What to Make of Declining Enrollment in Teacher Preparation Programs

Lisette Partelow
December 2019 | Center for American Progress

This report, published by the Center for American Progress, reviews state- and national-level trends in enrollment and completion of teacher preparation programs between 2010 and 2018. While enrollment nationally has declined by one third since 2010, the study finds that there are significant variations across states and gives attention to these trends with regard to gender, high-need subjects, and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The deeper dives into California and Texas reveal two alternative visions for how to address the issue of declining enrollment. The report provides state- and federal-level policy recommendations that center on expanding data collection processes to better inform the decision-making process and aid in differentiating programs by quality and effectiveness.