15 Oct2024
By Marquita Grenot-Scheyer and Gayle E. Hutchinson
In 2023, the AACTE Board of Directors appointed a task force composed of current and former board members to study best practices in association governance and recommend ways that AACTE’s governance system can best enable the association to meet current and future challenges.
The task force has recommended changes to AACTE’s bylaws affecting board size and composition, the process for nominating and selecting board members, as well as the charge and composition of AACTE’s Executive Committee. All bylaw changes require member approval; late last month, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to refer the proposed bylaw revisions to a member vote, which will occur electronically in November.
15 Oct2024
By AACTE
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, it’s essential to highlight the significance of amplifying Hispanic and Latin voices within educator preparation programs (EPPs). This celebration goes beyond cultural acknowledgment; it is about fostering a richer, more inclusive educational landscape.
According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, one in every four children in the United States identifies as Hispanic or Latino. As this data continues to change, resources for educators to be inclusive of Hispanic or Latino identities are pertinent to utilize and implement into their work.
15 Oct2024
By Janine Bowen, NC State
The following article was originally posted on the North Carolina State University College of Education news website and was reprinted with permission.
Jessica Hunt, a professor of special education and mathematics education in NC State’s College of Education, is aiming to counter disparities in STEM learning through her work on a new, grant-funded project entitled “Building and Testing a Framework for Liberatory and Conceptual Mathematics Learning with Black Disabled Students.” The project will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Virginia and the University of California-Santa Cruz and is funded by $4,342,845 from the National Science Foundation, of which the College of Education will receive $1,040,523.
The project will establish and sustain a partnership with a cohort of Black disabled high school students to center their voices, knowledge, and experiences in the development of a theoretical coaching framework that addresses challenges while advancing conceptual mathematics learning and high school mathematics instructional practices.
15 Oct2024
By Sharon Newman
Did you know that a great principal can influence student achievement almost as much as an exceptional teacher? Research has repeatedly affirmed the importance of school principals.
“Principals really matter. Indeed, it is difficult to envision an investment with a higher ceiling on its potential return than a successful effort to improve principal leadership.”
According to “How Principals Affect Students and Schools,” the influence of a strong principal on student achievement is second only to that of an exceptional classroom teacher. In addition, principals contribute to other important outcomes such as school climate, educational equity, attendance rates, and teacher satisfaction and retention.
15 Oct2024
By Julie Ferin
The 2024 NACCTEP Fall Institute, Pathways to Teaching: Building Sustainable Registered Apprenticeships with Community Colleges, will highlight community colleges’ vital role in developing sustainable teacher apprenticeship programs that help cultivate the next generation of educators. With a focus on creating effective, long-lasting apprenticeship models, this event is designed to inspire and equip institutions with the tools they need to support future educators.
AACTE has been instrumental in shaping the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards, working alongside the Pathways Alliance to develop innovative apprenticeship frameworks. This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration in building strong educational foundations.
Whether you share this information with your network or encourage colleagues to participate, your support can make a significant impact in reaching educators who would benefit from this opportunity. Together, we can ensure that educational institutions are prepared to launch successful apprenticeship programs that support aspiring teachers and strengthen the education system.
15 Oct2024
By U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is highlighting a series of resources available for students, families, borrowers, and schools and institutions of higher education impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These resources include guidance, on-the-ground support, technical assistance (including in accessing federal resources), and peer-to-peer connections for state and local leaders; resources for recovery needs such as mental health support for students and educators and to restore learning environments; flexibilities to help institutions of higher education continue to manage the federal financial aid programs; and automatically enrolling affected borrowers with missed payments into a natural disaster forbearance. Thanks to regulations issued by the Biden-Harris Administration, this forbearance will count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness.
The Department is urgently working to support impacted states with recovery efforts. The Department’s Disaster Recovery Unit (DRU) provides leadership, financial and technical resources, and support to assist education communities with recovery following a natural disaster. The DRU also collaborates with Federal recovery partners to support disaster recovery and connects education entities with disaster recovery experts to support specific recovery solutions. Following Hurricane Helene, the DRU reached out to state educational agencies and over 500 institutions of higher education in the impacted disaster areas to inform these entities of financial assistance opportunities, including Project SERV funds, which provide short-term funding for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that have experienced a violent or traumatic crisis, including weather-related natural disasters, to assist in restoring a safe environment conducive to learning. The Department will conduct similar outreach following Hurricane Milton. The Department is exploring options to offer program flexibilities, including extending grant application windows and waivers.
08 Oct2024
By Marquita Grenot-Scheyer
After serving as AACTE’s first dean in residence, Leslie T. Fenwick completed her five-year tenure this month. On behalf of the AACTE Board of Directors, I offer our sincere gratitude for her years of service in this leadership role.
“While meeting Dr. Leslie Fenwick in 2018, I knew she was the person to become the inaugural AACTE dean in residence,” said former AACTE President & CEO Lynn M. Gangone. “As dean emerita of Howard University’s School of Education and a former AACTE board member, Leslie had the depth and breadth of experience and gravitas for the dean in residence position. I am grateful for all her contributions to AACTE over these past five years and even more so for her colleagueship and friendship.”
07 Oct2024
By Tunara Moore
As the AACTE 2025 Annual Meeting approaches, we are bringing you a preview of some of Long Beach’s most exciting attractions through our #RoadToAACTE25 social media campaign. The meeting, taking place February 21 – 23 in Long Beach, CA, promises to be both a professional and personal adventure for attendees.
Here are five must-see destinations to explore during your time in Long Beach:
- The Queen Mary
A historic ocean liner permanently docked in Long Beach; The Queen Mary is not only famous for its grandeur but also its reputation as one of the most haunted places in America.
07 Oct2024
By Illinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC) today released early results from a $45 million state investment that show improved recruitment and retention in the state’s most understaffed school districts. The Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program, which was launched in the 2023-24 school year, provided 170 school districts that have the greatest teacher shortages state funds to invest in initiatives to recruit and license new hires and support retention of current educators.
Data is still being collected to assess the full impact of the funding, but ISBE and IWERC announced today that school districts participating in the Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program have hired nearly 5,400 new teachers and retained approximately 11,000 additional educators with the funds so far. The districts receiving the Teacher Vacancy Grant collectively serve approximately 870,000 students.
07 Oct2024
By U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced $65.4 million in 12 new Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) awards and $1.7 million for two new awards under the Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Grant Program (FDS).
These awards build on the $20 million in MSAP grants the Biden-Harris Administration announced in May ahead of the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision and further the Administration’s commitment to providing every student with a well-rounded education and improving the opportunities for every student to successfully learn and achieve.
07 Oct2024
By Learning Policy Institute
High teacher turnover undermines student achievement, and replacing teachers consumes valuable staff time and resources. Turnover also has an important impact on teacher shortages because most open positions each year are created by teachers leaving the profession before retirement.
The research used to create the teacher turnover calculator indicates that larger districts can, on average, spend nearly $25,000 on replacing a departing teacher when school and district expenses related to separation, recruitment, hiring, and training are factored in. High turnover can have additional fiscal impacts, as the investments made for hiring do not pay their full dividend when teachers leave within a few years.
07 Oct2024
By Tyler Pointer
AACTE is pleased to announce that the following 12 member institutions are FY24 grantees under the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program (Hawkins Program):
- CSU Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation (California State University, Fullerton)
- East Central University
- Fort Lewis College
- National University
- North Carolina Central University
- Prairie View A&M University
- Sonoma State University
- Texas A&M University Kingsville
- Texas State University
- The University of Nevada-Las Vegas
- University Enterprises Corporation at CSUSB (California State University, San Bernardino)
- University of Colorado Denver
The Hawkins Program is one of several federal initiatives to support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Tribal colleges or universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs), such as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Hawkins program funds the expansion of high-quality teacher preparation programs at institutions that serve many students of color. These grants address the teacher shortage and will further diversify the teacher workforce.
01 Oct2024
By Tyler Pointer
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Marta Perez Drake, will serve as interim president and CEO of AACTE through the remainder of 2024, positioning the Association to welcome the next president and CEO into their role in the coming months.
Drake has worked as COO of AACTE since January 2023. She has led all internal operations of the Association, from leading its groundwork in events like the Annual Meeting and Leadership Academy to assisting the president and CEO in carrying out the Association’s strategic priorities and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and making AACTE membership an equitable opportunity for all educator preparation professionals.
01 Oct2024
By AACTE
As the education landscape continues to evolve, the importance of robust leadership in state affiliates and leaders cannot be overstated. The Fall 2024 Virtual State Leaders Institute (SLI) on November 15, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET, is an essential opportunity for both current and emerging leaders within AACTE state affiliates. The following are four reasons to attend:
30 Sep2024
By Andrew Staples
Chico State’s School of Education is poised to alleviate financial obstacles for dozens of aspiring teachers across Northern California. The U.S. Department of Education awarded the University an $8.5 million grant, allocated over five years, to establish the Belong, Engage, Support, Transform (BEST) Teachers Residency program, which will place the next generation of educators at elementary schools in the region.
The BEST program will support 60 credential candidates, particularly from underrepresented groups, to earn elementary teaching credentials and masters of art degrees in teaching. They will be placed in high-need schools in the North State during a year-long residency.
The grant proposal was drafted and submitted by School of Education professors Jennifer Oloff-Lewis, Rebecca Justeson, Mimi Miller, and Claudia Bertolone-Smith.
