Why Teacher Residencies Need to Be the Standard
This brief from US Prep advocates for prioritizing yearlong teacher residencies as the primary pathway for teacher preparation, emphasizing the collaboration between educator preparation programs and school partners to overcome barriers. It highlights the resilience of programs scaling and sustaining residency pathways, illustrating a shift in staffing models and fund allocation to incorporate resident stipends. Despite the complexities, successful residency implementation positively impacts candidate preparation, student achievement, teacher retention, and diversity. Recognizing and rewarding programs and candidates opting for higher-quality preparation communicates the value placed on education. The brief underscores the importance of strategic partnerships among educator preparation programs, PreK–12 districts, state agencies, and legislatures to establish paid, yearlong teacher residencies as the standard, ensuring high-quality teacher preparation nationwide.