Missouri high-school science achievement tied to quality teachers, study finds

While public officials aim to establish Missouri as an attractive destination for emerging life sciences companies, a study by researchers in the Department of Education in Arts & Sciences indicates that high-school science proficiency in the state, especially among high-minority and poverty populations, is greatly dependent on having a core group of certified teachers who are highly qualified to teach courses in their content area.

Missouri high school science achievement tied to quality teachers, study finds

While public officials aim to establish Missouri as an attractive place for emerging life sciences companies to start, a study by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis indicates that high school science proficiency in the state, especially among high-minority and poverty populations, is greatly dependent on having a core group of certified teachers who are highly qualified to teach courses in their content area.

Better teachers?

The Missouri Senate approved a bill Feb. 26 that would make it easier for people to switch jobs to become teachers. But if enacted, would the bill increase teacher quality in the state? Probably not, says an expert in science and mathematics education at Washington University in St. Louis.