Preservice Preparation for the Urban Context

Abstract

Urban school districts are in great-need of qualified teaching personnel as documented by both personnel retention and school accountability data. Teacher education programs, particularly those sponsored by urban units of higher education, are called upon to invest additional effort to address these personnel needs. This article describes decision points facing teacher education programs with an urban focus. Examples of strategies resulting from each decision point are provided from the perspectives of the authors who are leading efforts to redesign an urban teacher education program at the University of New Orleans.