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Study: Teachers Not Far Ahead Of Students In Math

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The Associated Press

Published: November 26, 2008

WASHINGTON - Math can be hard enough, but imagine the difficulty when a teacher is just one chapter ahead of the students.

It happens, and it happens more often to poor and minority students. Those children are about twice as likely to have math teachers who don't know their subject, according to a report by the Education Trust, a children's advocacy group.

Studies show the connection between teachers' knowledge and student achievement is particularly strong in math.

The report looked at teachers with neither an academic major nor certification in the subjects they teach.

Among the findings, which were based on Education Department data:

•In high-poverty schools, two in five math classes have teachers without a college major or certification in math.

•In schools with a greater share of African-American and Latino children, nearly one in three math classes is taught by such a teacher.

Researchers compared two different sets of Education Department data, reports from state officials and a survey of teachers.

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