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Challenges Facing Teacher Education Today. A presentation to the Ohio Confederation of Teacher Education Organizations by Sharon P. Robinson AACTE President and CEO. April 20, 2006 Columbus, Ohio.
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Challenges Facing Teacher Education Today A presentation to the Ohio Confederation of Teacher Education Organizations by Sharon P. Robinson AACTE President and CEO April 20, 2006 Columbus, Ohio
Seismic Demographic Shifts • Most new population growth will occur among the least educated populations • The U.S. has lost its leadership role as the most highly educated nation in the world • Rising trend of income inequality The National Center on Public Policy in Higher Education, Nov. 2005
Teacher Education is… • Increasingly valued
Teacher Education is… • Undergoing Scrutiny
Teacher Education is … • Accountable
Teacher Education is … • Under-Funded
Teacher Education is … • Innovating, transforming
Teacher Education is … • Facing Competition
AACTE is: • Promoting the profession’s value • Encouraging scrutiny & accountability • Supporting innovation • Listening, learning, and responding to criticism and competition • Advocating for needed funding
AACTE’s Mission: Promote the learning of all PK-12 students through high-quality, evidence-based preparation and continuing education for all school personnel
AACTE’s Strategic Goals • Build Consensus on Professional Issues • Advocate in State and Federal Policy Arenas • Strengthen Programs and Enhance Their Capacity • Improve All Educators' Ability to Serve Diverse Learners
Program Parity • All must teach all children coming to school • All must model evidence-based effective programs • A common core curriculum • Well-defined standards of practice and performance • Extended clinical experiences • Strong university-school relationships • Use of methods that relate learning to practice • All must be subject to legal requirements
Accountability Applies to All • We all must document the quality of our candidates • We allmust show our candidates make a difference in student learning • We allmust avoid putting the least qualified teachers in charge of the neediest students
A View of the Profession Source: National Academy of Education Committee on Teacher Education. “Preparing Teachers for a Changing World.” February 2005.
Recommended Components of Alternative Preparation Programs • Selective admissions standards including: BA degree and assessments of subject matter competency, personal characteristics, and communications skills • A curriculum providing essential knowledge and skills needed to help students reach the state’s curricular standards • Assurance of candidates’ understandings of students’ differing learning approaches and how to use various instructional strategies to encourage the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills in all children • A supervised internship in which candidates demonstrate competency, jointly developed and supervised through cooperative university-school arrangements • Assessment of profession competency in the subject field and in professional studies… not limited to a paper and pencil test but rather should employ an array of sophisticated techniques that allow assessment in a supervised classroom over time.
It’s Not ‘Us and Them’ • Traditional programs not so ‘traditional’ • Adapting to customer needs • Often a fine line • Major differences: target audience, training design, length of preparation • More blending of clinical/content experience by both types
Current Roles in Clinical Preparation Along the Professional Development Continuum Universities [content mastery; theoretical understanding] Schools/Districts [skill mastery; positive dispositions] Ongoing Professional Development Pre-Service In-Service Induction NBPTS Preparation Master/Mentor Teaching
Desired Roles in Clinical Preparation Along the Professional Development Continuum Universities [content mastery; theoretical understanding] Schools/Districts [skill mastery; positive dispositions] Ongoing Professional Development Pre-Service In-Service Induction NBPTS Preparation Master/Mentor Teaching
Additional AACTE PrioritiesIncrease service to state chapters: • Additional offerings at annual meeting • Enhanced research services for state chapter needs • Capacity-building on effective communications with state legislatures • Support with membership recruitment
Additional AACTE PrioritiesExpand the AACTE Fold: • Increase the membership to 800 institutions • Continue improving services that add value • Encourage community colleges as affiliates • Support recruitment efforts of state chapters and dean-alike groups
Federal Update • Higher Education Act Reauthorization • Higher Education Appropriations for FY 2006 • President’s Budget Request for FY 2007 • Higher Education Appropriations for FY 2007 • NCLB Reauthorization
“Day on the Hill” • June 14th-15th in Washington • This is a critical time for teacher education • The Ohio delegation is pivotal! • A unique opportunity to impact on Congress • Let your congressional reps know your successes
A to Z to ‘Day on the Hill’ • Complete Registration Form • Reserve hotel room at AACTE discount • Arrange for your travel • Arrive DC Wednesday June 14th for a 3:00 pm Workshop to prepare for Congressional delegation meetings • Attend Reception on the Hill for AACTE members, Members of Congress and their staff (5:30-6:30 pm) • Attend Thurs. morning AACTE Congressional Briefing to inform Members and staff of your innovative programs • Later that day, Meet with your Congressional Delegation • At end of the day, Debrief with your AACTE colleagues and staff
New AACTE Membership Benefit: Grant-Seeking Service • To help you identify education R&D grant & contract opportunities at selected federal agencies and international organizations • No cost for: • Newsletters & bulletins highlighting offerings • Workshops at regularly scheduled AACTE events • For a service fee: • Targeted assistance to find specific opportunities • Developing and presenting proposals • Negotiating grants/contracts • Gaining visibility for your work
Teacher Education Imperatives • Increase the diversity of teacher candidates • Strengthen our curricula • Know precisely our impact on candidate knowledge and skills • Get serious about clinical development • Ensure our graduates can teach any child • Justify our existence by our impact on Pre K-12 learners