Why AACTE’s Leadership Academy is Essential for Professional Development

In the ever-changing landscape of higher education, navigating the complexities of leadership demands more than just expertise in pedagogy; it requires strategic vision, effective communication, and adept decision-making. Recognizing this, AACTE’s Leadership Academy is a cornerstone for empowering educator preparation academic leaders —  deans, department chairs, and other administrators — to thrive in their unique roles.

Join AACTE June 18–20 in Cleveland, OH, where Leadership Academy will accelerate personal and professional growth, offering members a unique opportunity to hone their skills, collaborate with peers, and find solace in shared experiences. The New Deans Academy is open to those with less than three or less years of experience in their role and will be held on June 17.

Preview AACTE’s Program for Washington Week 2024

Early Bird Registration Closes May 1

Are you ready to delve into the heart of educator preparation advocacy? Look no further than AACTE Washington Week — set against the backdrop of the nation’s capital, June 3–5 in Washington, DC. This event promises an unparalleled opportunity to engage with key policymakers, thought leaders, and advocates in the field of education.

Aspiring to the Characteristics of Technology Infused Preparation Programs

How Does Your Preparation Program Compare?

AACTE has long emphasized the need for a more robust integration of technology in teacher preparation programs. This vision involves a shift beyond mere coursework on educational technology to a comprehensive, program-wide infusion of technology, helping candidates graduate from programs as technologically proficient teachers. How does your preparation program compare to the literature on technology infusion? 

The Vision of Technology Infusion

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Technology Infusion represents a holistic strategy to empower preservice teachers with high-level proficiency with the digital tools necessary for PK-12 students to engage in modern-day learning experiences. This approach ensures that candidates benefit from continuous, developmentally appropriate exposure to technology’s potential to be seamlessly addressed throughout their training – including methods courses and clinical experiences. By sharing the responsibility of teaching the technology integration curriculum, faculty members and PK-12 mentors can support the necessary teaching, modeling, and support for candidates’ growth in teaching with technology across faculty members and PK12 mentor teachers, theoretical foundations for technology integration, effective teaching practices, and policy that is essential for candidates to develop self-efficacy for teaching with technology as they graduate.

Journal of Teacher Education Seeking Proposals on Generative AI 

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE) is seeking proposals for a special issue on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Volume 76, issue three. Generative AI is an artificial intelligence model that can create new content, mimicking certain styles or patterns in existing data. While AI has been part of the educational landscape for an extended period, generative AI is a relative newcomer. As a consumer product, generative AI broke into the mainstream with the release of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) in November 2022. Since then, educators have been grappling with its implications for learning in K-12 and, as a result, in teacher education. 

Advancing the conversation and the knowledge base around generative AI in education aligns with AACTE’s position to advance the quality of Educator preparation and enhance the educational experience for all students. 

In Pennsylvania: $1.5 Million In Grants To Grow Special Education Teacher Workforce 

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today announced that $1.5 million in grant funding is available to help schools create learning opportunities that will bolster the Commonwealth’s next generation of special educators. 

“The Shapiro Administration is laser-focused on growing and expanding the Commonwealth’s educator workforce, and we know that one of the areas of greatest need is in the field of special education,” said Secretary of Education Khalid N. Mumin, Ed.D. “This grant funding will complement the efforts we have already undertaken to create a pipeline of high-quality educators who can serve students from all walks of life and those with disabilities or different needs.”

U.S. Department of Education Releases Final Title IX Regulations, Providing Vital Protections Against Sex Discrimination 

For more than 50 years, Title IX has paved the way for tremendous strides in access to education for millions of students across the country. Every student deserves educational opportunity free from discrimination. That is why today the U.S. Department of Education (Department) released its Final Rule under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The final regulations promote educational equity and opportunity for students across the country as well as accountability and fairness, while empowering and supporting students and families. 

“For more than 50 years, Title IX has promised an equal opportunity to learn and thrive in our nation’s schools free from sex discrimination,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “These final regulations build on the legacy of Title IX by clarifying that all our nation’s students can access schools that are safe, welcoming, and respect their rights.” 

Webinar to Examine Equitable Learning in K-12 Classrooms

Featuring Ladson-Billings Outstanding Book Award Winner David Stroupe

As school leaders, educators make instructional decisions shaping opportunities in classrooms for students to learn. An educator’s words and actions, especially related to the treatment of students and their ideas, are foundational for creating equitable learning communities in our classrooms and schools.

On Wednesday, May 1, from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. ET, AACTE will host a Lunch & Learn recognizing the 2024 Gloria J. Ladson-Billings Outstanding Book Award winner David Stroupe, Ph.D., of the University of Utah and his book, “Growing and Sustaining Student-Centered Science Classrooms.”

Lunch with Lynn to Examine Advocacy, Education Policy

Advocacy is pivotal in educator preparation programs, uniting deans, faculty, and students in a shared mission of advancing teacher education. By advocating for policies and practices that prioritize excellence, equity, and innovation in teacher preparation, AACTE members contribute to a brighter future for education — and the future of the nation’s students.

AACTE will highlight these values on Tuesday, April 30, at 1:00 p.m. EST during Lunch with Lynn, where AACTE President & CEO Lynn M. Gangone, Ed.D., CAE, will explore the topic of advocacy with guests Michael Yudin of the Raben Group and 2024 AACTE David E. Imig Award winner and former AACTE senior vice president, Jane E. West, Ph.D.

Department of Education Seeking Peer Reviews for TQP Grant Competition

The U.S. Department of Education (Department), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Effective Educator Development (EED) Division is seeking peer reviewers for the upcoming Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant competition. This program seeks to improve the quality of teachers, principals, and other school leaders nationwide.

WHO: The Department is seeking peer reviewers from various professions and backgrounds to independently read, score, and provide timely, well-written comments for EED grant applications submitted to the Department. The most qualified reviewers will have education-related backgrounds and experience in most, if not all, of the following areas:

Austin Peay State University Unveils Cutting-Edge Furniture Connection Edtech Studio

The immersive capabilities of virtual reality — once thought to be just for gamers — are making their way into classrooms nationwide. Thanks to a generous gift from Furniture Connection, these technological innovations are now available for college students at Austin Peay State University (APSU).

University officials ushered in a new era in teacher preparation with the grand opening of the Furniture Connection EdTech Studio on March 11. This state-of-the-art space, located within the Eriksson College of Education, represents a leap forward in equipping aspiring educators with the latest educational technologies and immersive learning experiences.

The Furniture Connection EdTech Studio is a comprehensive learning hub that allows pre-service teachers to gain hands-on experience using virtual reality (VR) headsets, 3D printers, LEGO® Education sets, robotics, coding devices, and other cutting-edge tools.

UW-Madison Receives $2 Million for Education Research Project

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Education has announced a $2 million grant from the Wallace Foundation to measure the process and outcomes of equity-centered leadership in schools.

The funding will support the Comprehensive Assessment of Leadership for Learning–Mapping Equity Indicators (CALL-MEI) project, co-led by UW-Madison Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis professors Rich Halverson and Christopher Saldaña and Columbia University Teachers College professor Alex Bowers. The two-year project aims to develop new equity indicators, evidence models, and data tools. To that end, researchers will work with eight school districts across the country and identify public datasets that can serve as evidence for equity indicators and develop visualization tools for district and school leaders to track the progress of equity-related leadership efforts.

Global Education Opportunities, Resources Available to Members

The AACTE Global Education Faculty Professional Learning Community (PLC), supported by the Longview Foundation, recently concluded following a year dedicated to professional growth, networking, and collaborative endeavors spanning various institutions. As a result of their participation, PLC members created a Global Education Consortium of Resources that can be found on AACTE’s Connect 360 website. AACTE members are encouraged to log in to Connect 360 and to peruse the library and/or upload additional resources. 

U.S. Department of Education Announces $25 Million Teacher Quality Partnership Program Competition  

On April 4, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced a Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the Teacher Quality Partnership program (TQP) in the Federal Register. This NIA will close on June 3, 2024.  

The Department plans to award approximately $25 million to eligible partnerships to support high-quality teacher preparation and professional development for prospective teachers and school leaders. TQP funds teacher preparation programs at the undergraduate or “fifth-year” level (Pre-Baccalaureate Models); and teaching residency programs for individuals new to teaching with strong academic and professional backgrounds (Residency Models). This NIA also includes two leadership priorities.   

Teacher Stories: NJACTE Welcomes Teacher of the Year, Joe Nappi

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) strives to recognize educators who have gone above and beyond in their service to New Jersey’s students. All local educational agencies (LEAs) are encouraged to participate in its Governor’s Educator of the Year program to honor the hardworking teachers and educational services professionals for their dedication to students, and to the profession. 

As part of this distinguished state program, the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NJACTE) welcomes the teachers chosen to speak at a monthly membership meeting and invites them to share their thoughts about education. What follows is a post authored by 2024 NJ Teacher of the Year, Joe Nappi on the topic of difficult conversations.

Call for Proposals, Reviewers for the AACTE 2025 Annual Meeting

The Call for Proposals and Call for Reviewers for the AACTE 2025 Annual Meeting is now open. The conference theme, “Beyond the Horizon: Charting the Course for Educator Preparation” aligns the meeting with the Association’s vision and mission to revolutionize education for all learners by elevating education and educator preparation through research, professional practice, advocacy, and collaboration. Representing the institutions and programs that prepare the greatest number of professional educators in the United States and its territories, and in partnership with international colleague organizations, AACTE is the incubator for bold ideas and discoveries to drive impactful applications based on evidence-based reasoning.