Improving Teacher Preparation: Title II of the Higher Education Act

In October 1998, Congress passed Title II of the Higher Education Act (HEA) to improve the quality of teacher preparation across the United States. This law supports efforts by states, colleges and universities, and school districts to:

  • Recruit new teachers
  • Strengthen teacher preparation programs
  • Provide better support for beginning teachers

What Title II Does

Title II creates federal grant programs to help improve teacher education. It also introduces accountability measures to ensure that teacher preparation programs are effective and transparent.

Annual Reporting Requirements

Title II requires a three-step reporting process every year to track and share information about teacher preparation and licensing:

  1. Institutions of Higher Education (colleges and universities) must report to their state education agencies about their teacher preparation programs.

    • This includes data on program quality, pass rates on licensing exams, and other key indicators.
    • Institutions must also share this information publicly through materials like school catalogs and promotional brochures.

  2. States compile all the institutional reports into a statewide report.

    • This includes information about all teacher preparation programs in the state, certification requirements, and teacher testing data.

  3. The U.S. Department of Education collects all state reports and creates a national report.

    • This report is submitted to Congress and made available to the public.
    • It serves as a national “report card” on teacher qualifications and preparation.

Reporting Timeline

These reports are due every year:

  • Institutions must submit their reports to the state by April 7
  • States must submit their reports to the U.S. Department of Education by October 7
  • The Secretary of Education publishes the national report starting April 7, 2002, and annually thereafter

Why It Matters

This reporting process helps ensure that teacher preparation programs are held to high standards. It also gives future teachers, schools, and the public access to important information about how teachers are trained and licensed.

Visit the Federal Department of Education Title II page for more information.