The Potential Impact of the Removal of a Middle Grades Licensure Band on Ohio’s Teacher Education Majors

Authors

Keywords:

teacher preparation, licensure, grade bands, HB33

Abstract

In 1998 Ohio replaced a comprehensive Grades 1–8 teacher license with separate licenses for grades PreK-3 (comprehensive) and 4-9 (dual subject). This change allowed teacher candidates to develop a deeper understanding of the content, curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessment techniques specific to the grade levels and contents included in their licensures. Recent legislation (Ohio House Bill 33) contained a provision to replace the early and middle grade bands with a comprehensive PreK-8 license. In this article, we examine the potential impact of this legislative change through a detailed survey of preservice teachers, highlighting their concerns and the broader implications for teacher preparation in Ohio.

Author Biographies

Karl W. Kosko, Kent State University

Karl W. Kosko is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Kent State University. A former classroom teacher, he currently works with current and future elementary mathematics teachers. His research focuses on how mathematical meaning is conveyed with attention to the teaching and learning of multiplication/division, fractions, and incorporation of novel technology into mathematics.

Lynne M. Pachnowski, University of Akron

Lynne M. Pachnowski is a Professor of Math Education at the University of Akron. She teaches secondary and middle level math pedagogy courses. She served as project director of the university’s Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship (2010-2017), is the co-founder of the Rubber City Math Teacher Circle, is the Middle School Math Contest Director of Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM), has served as president of Ohio Math Educators Leadership Council (OMELC), and is currently a board member and treasurer of OMELC. Her research interests include issues related to urban teaching and integrating coding in mathematics curriculum. 

Gabriel Matney, Bowling Green State University

Gabriel Matney is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Bowling Green State University and the current President of the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He mentors and instructs teacher candidates in their mathematical knowledge for teaching in the areas of inclusive early childhood, middle level, and secondary mathematics. He is a co-founder of the Black Swamp Math Teachers Circle, co-advisor of BGCTM, and advisor of BGSU's Math Camp. His research interests include students' mathematical sense making, authenticity in learning, and lesson study. He currently serves on the Council of the World Association of Lesson Study.

Shannon O. Driskell, University of Dayton

Shannon Driskell is a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Dayton. She has spent her career focused on teaching and learning mathematics, particularly using technology, with expertise on developing preservice and inservice teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). She currently has a U.S. Department of Education grant to investigate 2nd through 5th Grade teachers’ use of digital curriculum to teach mathematics.

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Published

2024-05-21

How to Cite

O’Mellan, A., Kosko, K. W., Pachnowski, L. M., Matney, G., & Driskell, S. O. (2024). The Potential Impact of the Removal of a Middle Grades Licensure Band on Ohio’s Teacher Education Majors. hio ournal of chool athematics, 96(1), 47–56. etrieved from http://voyager.janeway.systems:9999/index.php/OJSM/article/view/9881

Issue

Vol. 96: Spring 2024

Section

Articles

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