Friday, April 25, 2014

From the White House

President Obama, today, asked the US Department of Education to design a plan to strengthen and recognize teacher education preparation programs. This plan will be open for public comment this summer and is scheduled to publish the final rule within one year.

The plan will:
  • build on state systems to identify high and low performing teacher preparation programs across "all kinds of programs, not just those based in colleges and universities."
  • ask states to streamline current date reporting requirements, incorporate more meaningful outcomes, and improve the availability of relevant information.
  • ask states to rate preparation programs for TEACH grants (this is a program for alternative teaching licenses) to ensure that federal dollars are supporting high quality programs.
The outcomes expected are:
  • identification of high-performing teacher preparation programs.
  • creation of a consumer information program  to drive improvement of programs.
The Obama Proposal will encourage and support states in developing systems to recognize excellence and provide all teacher preparation programs with improvement tools while building accountability.

The Proposal will encourage innovation initiatives such as:

  • The establishment of new standards by CAEP for accrediting teacher preparation programs.
  • Several states have created data collection systems to share information with teacher preparation programs.
  • ASU and Urban Teacher Residences are giving student teachers real life school experiences with mentor teachers.
  • The UTeach model at U of T at Austin is drawing STEM majors into teaching.
  • Relay Graduate School of Education sets high goals and monitoring of both program graduates and their employers.
  • Fayetteville State University in NC uses National Boards standards as well as standards from the NC Dept. of Public Ed. in its Master's program.
This Proposal is another component of the Administrations plan to ensure teacher excellence. Other components include:
  • Connect EDucators-a technology and professional development initiative.
  • RESPECT- a proposal to elevate the profession of teaching through preparation, early career support, leadership, and improved work environments
  • Programs such as the Teacher Incentive Fund, Investing in Innovation (i3), Race to the Top to assist states in the development of innovative ways to support educators.
At Montessori Forward, we will continue to monitor this proposal to determine its "threats" or "opportunities" for the Montessori community. Recognition of the Montessori teaching credential is an issue in just about every state in the country, both within QRIS for early childhood and infant/toddler, and within state DOE's, specifically licensing requirements.

This could be huge for us! To read the proposal for yourself:
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/25/fact-sheet-taking-action-improve-teacher-preparation

This is not a proposed bill but is a proposal that can be authorized through executive order by the President.

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