Challenges Facing Teacher Education Today A presentation to

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 1

The State of Teacher Education 2

Adjusting to a Rapidly Changing World 3

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 4

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Teacher Education is… • Increasingly valued 6

Teacher Education is… • Undergoing Scrutiny 7

Teacher Education is … • Accountable 8

Teacher Education is … • Under-Funded 9

Teacher Education is … • Innovating, transforming 10

Teacher Education is … • Facing Competition 11

What AACTE is Doing 12

AACTE is: • Promoting the profession’s value • Encouraging scrutiny & accountability • Supporting innovation • Listening, learning, and responding to criticism and competition • Advocating for needed funding 13

AACTE’s Mission: Promote the learning of all PK-12 students through high-quality, evidence-based preparation and continuing education for all school personnel 14

AACTE’s Strategic Goals I. Build Consensus on Professional Issues II. Advocate in State and Federal Policy Arenas III. Strengthen Programs and Enhance Their Capacity IV. Improve All Educators' Ability to Serve Diverse Learners 15

AACTE’s Response to Competition 16

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 17

Accountability Applies to All • We all must document the quality of our candidates • We all must show our candidates make a difference in student learning • We all must avoid putting the least qualified teachers in charge of the neediest students 18

A View of the Profession Source: National Academy of Education Committee on Teacher Education. “Preparing Teachers for a Changing World. ” February 2005. 19

Recommended Components of Alternative Preparation Programs 1. Selective admissions standards including: BA degree and assessments of subject matter competency, personal characteristics, and communications skills 2. A curriculum providing essential knowledge and skills needed to help students reach the state’s curricular standards 3. 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 4. A supervised internship in which candidates demonstrate competency, jointly developed and supervised through cooperative university-school arrangements 5. 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. 20

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 21

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 Induction Master/Mentor Teaching In-Service NBPTS Preparation 22

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 Induction Master/Mentor Teaching In-Service NBPTS Preparation 23

Additional AACTE Priorities Increase 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 24

Additional AACTE Priorities Expand 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 25

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 26

“Day on the Hill” • June 14 th-15 th 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 27

A to Z to ‘Day on the Hill’ 1. Complete Registration Form 2. Reserve hotel room at AACTE discount 3. Arrange for your travel 4. Arrive DC Wednesday June 14 th for a 3: 00 pm Workshop to prepare for Congressional delegation meetings 5. Attend Reception on the Hill for AACTE members, Members of Congress and their staff (5: 30 -6: 30 pm) 6. Attend Thurs. morning AACTE Congressional Briefing to inform Members and staff of your innovative programs 7. Later that day, Meet with your Congressional Delegation 8. At end of the day, Debrief with your AACTE colleagues and staff 28

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 29

What the Profession Needs to Do 30

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 31

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