CTERIN is the comprehensive response of nine University of California campuses to improve the equity, quality and efficiency of California’s educator preparation system. As a state, we are facing an intensifying teacher shortage coupled with a demand for teachers to know more and do more. Furthermore, as an incredibly diverse state, it is imperative that California’s teachers understand and reflect the diverse demographics and experiences of the students they teach. The work of CTERIN is centered around improving the equity, quality and efficiency of California’s educator preparation system. With the systemic racism and COVID-19 pandemics, teacher preparation programs are grappling with unforeseen challenges. More than ever, teacher scholars and educators are working on preparing California’s teachers for equitable, and culturally responsive and sustaining practice to better serve California’s students. CTERIN is responding to the immediate needs of the educational community by supporting and engaging in networked communities of practitioners and focused research that provides tangible tools and resources for educator preparation stakeholders. With over a hundred researchers linked to CTERIN, the UC system is leading efforts to improve our teaching workforce, arguably one of the most important levers to improving the education young people receive. Our systems-change approach includes four interrelated Aims, listed below.
Merging California’s disconnected data sources to study the mechanisms and equity of recruitment, retention, and pathways to the teaching profession.
Working with a wide range of stakeholders to conduct research that informs the policy questions stakeholders are asking, including those of interest to groups that are traditionally underserved in the formation of policy.
Utilizing an Improvement Science approach to understand and address teacher education practice that leads to effective teaching.
Building a system-wide program to better prepare doctoral scholars for the work of teacher education, especially in diverse communities and especially in California.