For the past hundred or so years, the training and certification of public school teachers has been largely in the hands of colleges of education, but this monopoly is now being challenged by private sector entrants into the teacher training business, explains Robert Holland in "The Rise of Private Teacher Training," an issue brief published by the Lexington Institute on August 10. Sylvan Leaning Centers contracts with school districts to provide training to bring uncertified teachers up to standards and also partners with Columbia University's Teachers College to prepare teachers for National Board certification; Edison Schools intends to open its own teacher colleges in 20 different cities over the next seven years; and the University of Phoenix, which trains teachers online, was recently admitted into the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, which has changed its bylaws to allow for-profit members. To read more about these developments, surf to http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/education/pvtteacher.htm.
