What is TQE/Teacher PREP?

California State Polytechnic University Pomona, in partnership with school districts, community colleges, and business and community partners, has created TQE/Teacher PREP: Teacher Pathways Reaching Excellence through Partnerships. It is a comprehensive model of reform aimed at significantly improving the preparation of teachers for the challenges of the region’s diverse
21st century classrooms. Its objectives are as follows:

Objective #1: Enhance preservice preparation of new teachers

1.1	Strengthen academic content knowledge and understanding of research-based instructional strategies of teacher candidates.
1.2	Integrate technology in all aspects of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
1.3	Increase new teacher accountability through standardized assessments.

Objective # 2: Enhance preparation of new teachers for K-12 diverse contexts of teaching

2.1	Establish Professional Development School partnerships to provide early and significant learning through expanded clinical/field experiences at school sites.
2.2	Equip new teachers to work with English Language Learners and other Special Needs students.
2.3	Develop candidates’ abilities to communicate effectively with parents.

Objective #3: Enhance support for beginning teachers

3.1	Expand new teacher induction activities to include K-12 mentor teacher activities aligned with university roles and recognition.
3.2	Prepare principals with instructional leadership strategies to support new teachers and increase student achievement.

Objective #4: Enhance recruitment and retention of highly qualified teachers

4.1	Recruit new talent into teaching, including paraprofessionals and community college students.
4.2	Establish a replicable professional science, math and engineers in education program (Career Transition Pathways Program) with private industry partners.

Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants

The Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants initiative consists of three separate programs: Partnership Grants for Improving Teacher Preparation, State Grants, and Teacher Recruitment Grants. Partnership Grants for Improving Teacher Preparation, like the TQE/Teacher PREP grant to Cal Poly Pomona, provide funds to partnerships among teacher preparation institutions, schools of arts and sciences, and local school districts in high-need areas.

The partners are committed to working to strengthen teacher education through activities such as: improving prospective teachers' knowledge of academic content, ensuring that teachers are well-prepared for the realities of the classroom, preparing prospective teachers to use technology and to work effectively with diverse students, and implementing reforms that introduce new approaches to accountability within teacher education programs.

TQE/Teacher PREP is a project funded by a Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership (TQE-P) grant from the U.S. Department of Education under Title II. Dr. Gloria Guzman-Johannessen was a principal contributor to the conceptualizing and the authoring of the Teacher PREP grant.