In particular, they are zeroing in on the president's call for "qualified" teachers—a term that carries baggage in a field where debates loom large about how to simultaneously improve the quality of instruction, increase the number of children served, and raise the prestige and pay of pre-K's approximately 1.8 million teachers.
While some advocates see the remark as an acknowledgment of the specialized training early-childhood educators need, others worry that it could signal a focus on pure credentials. That credentials-based approach, they say, is unlikely to improve outcomes for pupils unless it's coupled with attention on improving how teachers interact with young children.
Author: Stephen Sawchuk
Source: Ed Week