Startup Teacher Education: A Fresh Take on Teacher Credentialing

This case study examines the work of three groups of charter management organizations (CMOs) to develop and launch teacher credentialing and master’s degrees programs. After concluding that traditional teacher preparation programs were not equipping their graduates with the skills needed to teach effectively, leaders at High Tech High in San Diego; Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First in New York; and Match Education in Boston created their own programs for educating teachers, granting teacher certifications, and awarding master’s degrees in education. This case study details the regulatory and business model changes these CMOs faced to establish alternatives to teacher training programs at traditional colleges and universities.