Teacher preparation programs at Hawaii universities are in need of some improvement, according to a recent report by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

The study, entitled “Teacher Prep Review 2013,” evaluated 1,130 higher education institutions. NCTQ used standards used by hundreds of institutions, according to the report.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s undergraduate elementary education program and UH Manoa’s undergraduate and graduate secondary education programs were among the weakest programs, each receiving a warning sign. 

The warning signs mark institutions that have received a “Consumer Alert” from NCTQ. Fourteen percent of the programs surveyed received consumer alerts. 

Meantime, UH Manoa’s graduate elementary program and Chaminade University’s graduate secondary program each got one star.

Chaminade’s undergraduate elementary program was the only program to receive two stars.

No Hawaii teacher prep programs were placed on the NCTQ honor roll, which recognizes schools that receive three or more stars. 

Photo courtesy of Flickr: www.audio-luci-store.it

— Alia Wong