Archive for September, 2024

Grace College Opens Center for Literacy & Learning 

Grace College’s new Center for Literacy and Learning (CLL) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new tutoring center on the third floor of Mount Memorial Hall on September 9.  

The CLL, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana, is dedicated to enhancing teacher candidate knowledge and application of Science of Reading evidence-based practices while collaborating with local school districts to build capacity for dynamic clinical placements. 

“The Center for Literacy and Learning is our collective response to the need for literacy,” said Rachael Hoffert, Ed.D., director of the center and chair of the Department of Elementary Education at Grace. 

JTE Highlights Teacher Residencies in New Call for Manuscripts 

The Journal of Teacher Education (JTE), AACTE’s flagship publication, is seeking manuscripts by December 1, 2024, to be submitted online for the journal’s 75th anniversary — with a special issue focusing on issues related to teacher education for pre- and in-service teachers. 

Manuscripts submitted for consideration should be research/empirical reports and analyses or conceptual essays. 

“Without question, time in the field helps teacher candidates traverse the theory-practice divide. Teacher residency programs are advanced forms of field-based learning or clinical preparation for beginning teachers,” Co-editor Valerie Hill-Jackson, Ed.D., said in the Call for Manuscripts. 

In Oregon: State Makes Strides in Diversifying Educator Workforce 

The Educator Advancement Council, on behalf of and in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC), and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) announces the release of the 2024 Educator Equity Report. The 2024 Educator Equity Report is the ninth report published by state education agencies since 2015 on educator workforce diversification efforts in Oregon.

The 2024 Educator Equity Report highlights several key findings that underscore the ongoing bright spots and challenges in achieving a more diverse educator workforce in Oregon. It is important to note that no state has a teacher workforce that proportionally mirrors the racial and ethnic diversity of its students. Despite slow progress, states, including Oregon, are actively improving and seeking strategies to recruit and retain teachers of color.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $28 Million in Grants to Develop a Diverse Educator Workforce 

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced more than $28 million in new awards in the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program to recruit, prepare, develop, and retain a strong, effective, and diverse educator workforce for classrooms across the country.  

The Department also released new data showing the breakdown of borrowers approved for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) in every state. The data showcase how every state has borrowers, including educators, that are part of the $69.2 billion for nearly 947,000 borrowers that have seen relief through this program. By contrast, at the start of this Administration, only 7,000 had been approved for PSLF.  

Appalachian State Awarded $35 Million Grant to Expand GEAR UP College Access Program 

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a seven-year, $35 million GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant to Appalachian State University’s College Access Partnerships in the Reich College of Education. The award represents the largest single grant ever awarded to the university. 

GEAR UP is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school. Through a wide range of research-based services to students, families, and teachers, the GEAR UP NC Appalachian Partnership aims to improve college-going mindsets, high school graduation rates, and postsecondary enrollment rates. 

Registration Opens for AACTE 2025 Annual Meeting

Early bird registration for the AACTE 2025 Annual Meeting, set to take place February 21-23 in Long Beach, CA, has officially opened. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Horizon: Charting the Course for Educator Preparation,” promises to be a transformative event, reflecting AACTE’s ongoing commitment to revolutionizing education for all learners.

The Annual Meeting will bring together educators, researchers, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the nation to explore and address the critical advancements in educator preparation. The meeting will delve into innovative strategies and practices designed to enhance educator preparation programs and, ultimately, improve educational outcomes for students.

Seven Reasons to Nominate Your Institution for AACTE Awards

As the nomination deadline for the AACTE Awards nears on Sunday, September 15, it is essential to consider the benefits of showcasing your institution’s achievements.  

Specifically, the Best Practice category of AACTE Awards Program highlights the collective efforts institutions are making to progress teacher preparation to create more inclusive and high-quality programs for students.  

“It is an honor to be recognized by AACTE,” said Dawn Williams, Ph.D., dean of Howard University’s School of Education, who won the 2024 AACTE Best Practice Award in Support of Global and International Perspectives. “This collective effort to foster cross-cultural understanding for our pre-service teachers underscores the importance of interconnected education in our increasingly interconnected world.”  

KU Partners with Teachers, Schools to Train Early-Childhood Special Educators; Publishes Guide For Teacher Prep Programs 

Teachers who work with young children with high-intensity support needs play a critical role in important stages of neurodevelopment and educational trajectory. But they need support, as well as training in the latest research and practices that best serve students at the critical early phase of their education. University of Kansas (KU) researchers are in the second year of a project to train future and working educators in the latest supports for early childhood special education, while making the practices and supports available for educators nationwide. 

KU faculty are beginning year two of Project MounTaiN, also known as Meeting the Need, a five-year $1.1 million grant project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs. The project has developed new curriculum to train educators who work with infants, toddlers, and young children in special education and is partnering with public schools, early intervention systems, and local early childhood centers in Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka to provide applied learning opportunities in a wide cross-section of schools and educational settings. The faculty has also published a manuscript outlining effective intensive intervention competencies for educators who will work with these children and their families. 

Read the full story on the University of Kansas website.

Lenoir-Rhyne Receives $1.2 million National Science Foundation Grant

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Lenoir-Rhyne University a grant through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The award, totaling $1.2 million, will fund eight scholarships each year over the next five years for Master of Arts in teaching students pursuing careers teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the secondary level. 

“We designed this grant to tackle the dual challenge of addressing STEM teacher shortages – particularly in high-need schools – and creating pathways for underrepresented students to become STEM educators,” shared Hank Weddington, Ed.D., dean of the College of Education and Human Services. 

General teacher shortages have made news nationwide in recent years, and those shortages are even more pronounced in the STEM subject areas. By 2028, North Carolina is projected to require more than 300,000 workers to fill critical roles in STEM professions. Sustained economic growth is dependent on the educators who prepare their students to enter those professions. 

In Louisiana: State Releases Guidance for Responsible Use of AI in K-12 Classrooms  

The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is equipping educators with resources to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. The LDOE has developed a comprehensive new guide on the safe, ethical, and effective use of AI. Based on recommendations from the LDOE’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force, the guidance can be used by school systems to create their own AI policies. 

“As the impact of artificial intelligence grows, it’s important we provide information on effective and safe utilization,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, Ed.D. “I’m excited to share the first edition of a living document we will update as this transformative technology evolves.” 

Biden-Harris Administration Awards $80 Million+ to Improve College Readiness, Access, and Success for Low-Income Students

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced today more than $80 million in grant awards to 26 grantees to improve access to postsecondary education for students from low-income backgrounds. The grants are being provided under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program, which aims to significantly increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who are prepared to attend and succeed in postsecondary education.