AACTE Announces 2020-21 State Chapter Support Award Winners
On behalf of AACTE and the Advisory Council of State Representatives (ACSR), I am happy to announce the winners of the 2020-21 State Chapter Support Award: The three recipients are Nebraska, California and Kentucky.
It is the mission of AACTE to elevate education and educator preparation through high-quality research, professional practice, and advocacy for all learners in ways that are collaborative and that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Each year, AACTE awards funding to a handful of projects organized by state chapters in these areas.
Advocacy and policy leadership, enhancing program quality, partnerships and communication support and regional collaboration are just a few of the areas that have received financial support in previous years.
This year, the Nebraska state chapter, led by Sara Skretta of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will use its award to convene the first Nebraska Educators Leadership Summit on Teacher Vacancy and Shortage. Three University of Nebraska campuses, along with Peru State College, will host discussions with stakeholders across the state in support of a unified effort to reduce the vacancies and shortages in Nebraska classrooms.
In California, chapter leaders will work with the Washington and Arizona state chapters, to examine as a region, the issues and new practices of those states in teacher education through a social justice and post-pandemic lens. Issues of equity in areas such as candidate recruitment, program support, and professional identity formation will be highlighted. An additional goal of the project is to increase capacity for leadership in teacher preparation in the region; strengthen each chapters’ capacity for leadership in their respective states; and developing partnerships with other state chapters to share and learn from each other. The California project is lead by Virginia Kennedy of California State University—Northridge.
The focus of Kentucky chapter project is to impact data (CAEP Standard 4). One of the key deliverables will be an employer survey and data system setup. It will study the impact of EPP completers on P-12 student performance by gathering data regarding: 1) K-Prep, 2) ACT Testing, 3) End of Course Exams, 4) MAPP Diagnostic Testing. The survey will also gather information regarding the satisfaction of employers with completers’ preparation by developing and implementing a statewide survey of employers. Led by Gary Schroeder of the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Murray State University will also support the project.
AACTE takes pleasure in congratulating the Nebraska, California, and Kentucky state chapters on their awards and looks forward to hearing about their progress this September during the State Leadership Institute virtual convening to be held September 30 and October 1 during Washington Week.
Tags: accreditation, advocacy, equity, shortage, social justice, state affiliate
