Outlook

Co-teaching study significantly impacts 6,300 students

Monday, April 3, 2006

Research on a program SCSU piloted last year in five area school districts found that the initiative significantly and positively impacted more than 6,300 students. The study of co-teaching, which paired classroom teachers with SCSU student teachers to plan, organize, deliver and assess instruction in the classroom, was funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

The results of the 149 teacher/teacher candidate pairings were evaluated with a combination of standard testing programs, attendance and disciplinary records, focus groups and surveys. Statistically significant findings from the study indicated that:

• Students in co-taught classrooms at all grade levels, pre-kindergarten to 12, made significant gains in reading skills and proficiency
• Students experienced significant gains in math proficiency
• Student attendance rates increased
• Students had fewer classroom disruptions and fewer overall disciplinary incidents
• Co-taught students overwhelmingly said they got help when they needed it,  learned more and faster, and felt more connected to school
• Teachers also benefited. The SCSU teacher candidates reported increased confidence in teaching and managing a classroom, and the cooperating teachers reported renewed passion for teaching.

Find more information and research findings on the co-teaching initiative at www.stcloudstate.edu/coe/tqe.

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