26 Sep2024
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
On Wednesday, September 25, the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing on “Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators.” Witnesses included AACTE members Carole Basile, Ed.D., dean of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, and Melba Spooner, Ed.D., dean of the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. They were joined by Sharif El-Mekki, CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, and Greg Mendez, Ed.D., principal of Skyline High School in Mesa, AZ.
CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development Sharif El-Mekki, and AACTE Members Melba Spooner, Ed.D., and Carol Basile, Ed.D. during Wednesday’s hearing.
In addition to describing the teacher shortage, which Chairman Aaron Bean (R-FL) likened to a car dashboard warning light for the education system, the hearing focused on solutions. Witnesses and members described initiatives including Grow Your Own programs for high school students, residencies and apprenticeships, and student loan forgiveness. Members raised concerns about teacher compensation and diversity, staffing for special education, trauma-informed instruction, and the affordability and convenience of educator preparation programs. Several members, including Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), described legislation they support to address concerns they raised.
A major focus of the hearing was strategic staffing as a systemic approach to redesigning teaching, the school environment, and educator preparation. Basile and Mendez described how a team-based approach to teaching works and the benefits that it conveys to teachers, students, and schools.
26 Feb2024
Data Shows Positive Trends in Teacher Preparation
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Since 2018, I have documented key trends in educator preparation in a series of reports for AACTE. Members can access these reports at aacte.org/resources/research-reports-and-briefs.
In these reports, I’ve shared a lot of negative information about declining participation in educator preparation during the 2010s. So, when the U.S. Department released new data on the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years — the height of the COVID pandemic — I held my breath.
I am so pleased to report that — in two new data updates released at the AACTE Annual Meeting last week — I have good news to share about several key indicators including the following:
- Enrollment in IHE-based teacher preparation programs leading to initial licensure
- Completions of these teacher preparation programs
- Degrees and certificates awarded in the field of education
26 Sep2023
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Following up on the highly successful inaugural event last year, AACTE and the Advisory Council of State Representatives (ACSR) are once again sponsoring a highly interactive Virtual State Leaders Institute on Wednesday, November 1 from 12 pm to 5 p.m. ET.
With a low registration fee of $50 per person ($65 for non-AACTE members), anyone active in a state affiliate organization can attend to hear the latest on key state policy issues, connect with and learn from colleagues around the country, and build capacity to advocate on behalf of high-quality educator preparation.
06 Sep2022
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Congratulations to the AACTE state affiliate organizations from Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, and Montana which were selected from among numerous excellent applicants for a 2022-23 State Affiliate Support Award. AACTE uses these awards to support state affiliate organizations in advancing the following priorities:
- Advocacy and Policy Leadership
- Enhancing Program Quality
- Partnership and Communication
05 Jul2022
By Kelly Coash Johnson, Jacqueline Rodriguez and Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
AACTE participated in this past spring’s National Educator Shortage Summit, to promote conversations across traditional silos, hosted by the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA). The Summit convened PK-20 stakeholders to discuss educator workforce and pipeline shortages with a culminating report, Shortage to Surplus: 5 Shifts to Address the National Educator Shortage.
22 Mar2022
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
The Colleges of Education: A National Portrait is AACTE’s signature report on schools, colleges, and departments of education. The second edition was released today and AACTE is hosting a webinar to review its findings on Monday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
This report is a major vehicle for AACTE to tell the story of colleges of education nationwide and for members to situate their own programs in the broader context of the trends that are shaping the profession. Education preparation program faculty are encouraged to use it to communicate with their institution’s leadership, PK-12 partners, and other key cnstituents about the issues, trends, and challenges impacting educator preparation.
This year, in addition to describing the work of colleges of education, the people who do that work, and the students they serve, the National Portrait includes a special analysis on the important contributions that community colleges make to educator preparation.
Join me and my co-author Weadé James on March 28 for this member-only, informative webinar. Register today.
08 Mar2022
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
The recently concluded 74th Annual Meeting in New Orleans marked a transition in leadership for AACTE’s Board of Directors. Michael Dantley, dean emeritus of the College of Education, Health and Society at Miami University of Ohio is the new chair of the Board of Directors. He is joined on the AACTE Executive Committee by the following:
08 Mar2022
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
AACTE will soon release the second edition of its signature report, Colleges of Education: A National Portrait. In addition to updating information on colleges of education and their leaders, faculty, and students, this edition features a special analysis on the contributions that community colleges make to educator preparation. Topics to be covered will include:
- Scope of educator preparation in the U.S.
- Trends in undergraduate and graduate degrees conferred in education
- Demographics of leaders and faculty
- Student demographics
- Contributions of community colleges to educator preparation
07 Mar2022
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
In February, Vice President for Research Policy & Advocacy Jacqueline Rodriguez and I presented at the National Teacher Shortage Summit. The Summit was hosted by the American Association of School Personnel Administrators and co-sponsored by numerous organizations, including AACTE. Our presentation summarized findings from numerous AACTE studies on trends in educator preparation and featured initiatives by several AACTE members to address the shortage of teachers and other essential educators.
The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) subsequently recorded a webinar with the two of us, summarizing our presentation, and has made it available free for AACTE members. The webinar also features other presenters from the Summit.
01 Feb2022
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
As PK-12 schools, colleges, and universities around the country cope with the surge of coronavirus cases, AACTE’s fall 2021 member survey is drawing public attention to the pandemic’s continuing impact on educator preparation. The teacher shortage is now front-page news, and AACTE’s survey is providing vital information on how COVID-19 is affecting the supply of new teachers, counselors, and other educators.
AACTE members can access a free copy of the survey report and view a short video summary of key results. A new infographic provides a quick visual representation to share on social media.
23 Dec2021
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
As PK-12 schools, colleges, and universities around the country cope with a surge of coronavirus cases, and concerns rise regarding the Omicron variant, AACTE is offering a webinar to look back on the pandemic’s impact on educator preparation and discuss plans for 2022.
Since spring 2020, when schools and colleges around the country switched to online instruction due to COVID-19, AACTE has periodically surveyed members on the impact of the pandemic on educator preparation. A new report updates that series with information collected in fall 2021. It describes how conditions have changed since 2020, highlighting the lasting effects of the pandemic.
14 Dec2021
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Since spring 2020, when schools and colleges around the country switched to online instruction due to COVID-19, AACTE has periodically surveyed members on the impact of the pandemic on educator preparation. A new report updates that series with information collected in fall 2021. It describes how conditions have changed since 2020, highlighting the lasting effects of the pandemic.
This report contains a lot of good news regarding the resumption of in-person instruction and field experience and the easing of enrollment and budget reductions. Nonetheless, the effects of COVID-19 linger for many institutions, with a sizable minority of respondents reporting significant enrollment losses, budget cuts, and staffing reductions. State licensing requirements have been reinstated, but some states are creating opportunities for prospective teachers to circumvent those rules, which may negatively affect enrollment in educator preparation programs and exacerbate the current shortage of profession-ready educators in the workforce.
24 Nov2021
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Now is your last opportunity to make your voice heard in AACTE’s Board of Director election. Voting closes November 30. Be sure to vote by midnight.
This year, there are 12 individuals running for 2 at-large seats and for seats representing AILACTE, HACU, NAFEO, and TECSCU. In addition, members are asked to ratify a set of proposed technical changes to the Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws.
22 Nov2021
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Turkey? Check. Pies? Check. Vote in the AACTE Board Election? Check!
As you tick items off your list ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, please make sure you include voting in the AACTE Board Election, which closes on November 30. This year, there are 12 individuals running for two at-large seats and for seats representing AILACTE, HACU, NAFEO, and TECSCU. In addition, members are asked to ratify a set of proposed technical changes to the Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws.
15 Nov2021
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
The 2021 election for the AACTE Board of Directors is underway through Tuesday, November 30. This is an important year, with 12 candidates vying for six open seats:
- Two at-large representatives
- One seat representing the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE)
- One seat representing the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
- One seat representing the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO)
- One seat representing the Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities (TECSCU)
All AACTE Institutional and Chief Representatives are eligible to vote for all positions. In addition, members are asked to vote on ratifying changes to the AACTE Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
