The UTeach institute is recognized as a model for STEM teacher preparation reform by the National Research Council, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering.

 The core elements of the UTeach model include:

• Active recruitment of undergraduate STEM majors and incentives for considering teaching;
• The importance of programs of study that emphasize the development of deep content knowledge and research-based instructional strategies for teaching science and mathematics;
• A compact degree program that allows for STEM undergraduates to complete both a STEM degree and teacher certification in the standard timeframe for completing their undergraduate degree;
• Early, regular, and intensive field experiences beginning with the students’ first experiences in the program.

As a member of the UTeach community, DragonsTeach has access to programmatic support and resources that will enable Drexel to achieve many of the same successes that have been realized at the University of Texas at Austin and other participating universities.

Examples of success from the University of Texas include:

• Increase in the number of undergraduate STEM teachers certified (from approximately 20 in 1997 to approximately 70-80 per year currently)
• The production of more than 800 secondary STEM teachers since 1997
• Of the teachers certified at UT Austin,
  • Over 90% of of the graduates enter teaching
  • 80% of the graduates remain in teaching after five years
  • Nearly 50% choose to teach in urban schools