07 Oct2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
There is a growing body of research suggesting that concerns about compensation generally—and about being able to repay student loans in particular—are dissuading college students from choosing teaching as a career. These financial concerns have only been exacerbated by COVID-19 and its attendant financial crisis.
To help members better understand the financial pressures impacting education students, AACTE has released the new How Do Education Students Pay for College? issue brief that takes a detailed look at how students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education pay for college, including the costs they face and the financial sources they tap to meet those expenses.
On Wednesday, October 21 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET, AACTE will host a webinar on this important topic. As the issue brief’s author, I will review the research findings, and I’ll be joined by AACTE consultant Jane West for a discussion of the implications of these findings for campus practice and federal policy. West will also share AACTE’s priorities for strengthening aid to future educators in federal appropriations bills as well as the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
The one-hour session will feature time for questions and discussion.
Register now.
02 Oct2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
To better understand and meet the needs of its members, AACTE is launching a survey on how educator preparation programs are impacted by and reacting to the twin crises of the pandemic and racial violence and inequity in the United States. This survey follows up on a similar effort last spring to capture how the pandemic was impacting members’ ability to prepare future educators.
The chief representative for each AACTE member college and university will be invited to complete the survey. The survey will be open October 7 through November 6. Results will be released in November. Deans, directors, and chairs are asked to be on the lookout for this invitation and to complete the survey at their earliest convenience. AACTE will use member responses to
- Determine the support members need
- Inform the public and policy makers about how the coronavirus and racial inequity crises are affecting educator preparation and how members are leading during these crises
- Share aggregated information to help you benchmark your experience against your peers.
For more information and resources on COVID-19 and educator preparation, please visit AACTE’s COVID-19 Resource Page.
08 Sep2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
After a highly successful tenure, it is time for Michigan State University to hand over the reins of AACTE’s premier publication to a new campus-based team. The Journal of Teacher Education (JTE) is a 120-page refereed scholarly publication on teacher education policy, practice, and research. It is published five times each year; the editors typically receive more than 800 articles annually, of which about 40 are published.
The JTE editor is responsible for editorial administration of the journal. This includes receiving and screening manuscripts; coordinating the blind peer-review process; substantive editing; working with authors on revisions; selecting and organizing final articles for each issue; writing an editorial; and transmitting print-ready issue copy to SAGE Publications, Inc., which provides copy editing, layout, and printing services for the journal and manages its subscription, distribution, and marketing activities.
Proposals to serve as the editorial team for JTE are due on October 1 (see this blog post for more information and a link to the RFP).
If you plan to submit a proposal, what should you be considering? A successful proposal will provide comprehensive answers to the following key questions:
13 Aug2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
A June 2020 paper from the National Center for Education and the Economy offers interesting insights about how countries with top-performing K-12 education systems have responded to the wholesale move to distance education. In addition to summarizing what countries have done, the paper includes many examples of specific initiatives with links for additional information. Among the findings:
- Several countries affected by the SARS epidemic had emergency distance plans in place that they were able to activate when the pandemic struck. These plans included training for teachers on distance education and creation of repositories of materials for online learning linked to the jurisdictions’ curricula.
- Even countries not impacted by prior pandemics have made investments in creating support networks for educators that provided teachers with access to expert advice and support for teaching online.
- Because many top-performing countries had already invested in creating online repositories of teaching and learning materials, they were able to quickly develop guidance and supports for teachers when schools had to move online.
- Several countries leveraged expert teachers to create lesson materials for their online repositories and to provide support to less experienced teachers.
- As other countries have begun to re-open, they have prioritized in-person access for students with special needs and for students who have particularly struggled with online learning, relying primarily on the professional judgment of teachers to identify those students.
31 Jul2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
More than ever, AACTE members are focused on disrupting inequities and advancing racial justice. AACTE is offering two great new opportunities for members to engage in this work with colleagues from across the country. The AACTE Board of Directors recently created two new committee:
- Advisory Committee on Educator Diversity
- Holmes Program Advisory Committee
These committees will advise AACTE on how it can best help members attract and retain diverse future teachers and other educators and on AACTE’s signature program for future scholars and leaders of color, the Holmes Program.
If you are interested in serving on one of these important new committee—or if you would like to nominate a colleague—please act now! Nominations close on August 7. Learn more and submit your nomination.
10 Jul2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
The AACTE Board of Directors recently created two new advisory committees to promote diversity in the educator workforce and among future leaders and scholars in educator preparation. These committees will be an integral part of fulfilling the strategic priority of diversity, equity, and inclusion outlined in AACTE’s new strategic plan.
Nominations are open through August 7 for positions on the new Programmatic Advisory Committee on Educator Diversity and the Holmes Program Advisory Committee
02 Jul2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
AACTE invites proposals for a campus-based team to edit the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE) for a 3-year term, commencing with the January/February 2022 issue. Proposals must be submitted online by October 1. Qualified teams from schools, colleges, and departments of education at AACTE member institutions may apply.
Download the complete request for proposals, or enter the online submission site.
JTE, in continuous publication since 1950, is the premier journal for teacher education, providing a vital forum for considering practice, policy, and research in the field. Published five times a year, the journal reaches a worldwide audience and is regularly cited in new research. JTE is AACTE’s only journal, published in partnership with an editorial team based at a member institution and SAGE.
Michigan State University has served as editorial host of the journal since 2015, led by a team of four co-editors—Tonya Bartell, Dorinda Carter Andrews, Robert Floden, and Gail Richmond. Editors aim to achieve a strategic balance among the areas of pre-service and in-service teacher education practice, policy, and research, bringing those areas to bear on one another in challenging and productive ways. They offer a forum for diverse work of teacher education researchers (university and non-university based), teacher education practitioners (e.g., university, state, district, community college), and policy makers at all levels. Linking research and practice is paramount in their vision for JTE.
02 Jul2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
The AACTE Board of Directors recently created two new advisory committees to promote diversity in the educator workforce and among future leaders and scholars in educator preparation. These committees will be an integral part of fulfilling the strategic priority of diversity, equity, and inclusion outlined in AACTE’s strategic plan.
Advisory Committee on Educator Diversity
The purpose of this committee is to advise the AACTE staff and Board of Directors on current trends, issues, and programming needs related to advance diversity in educator preparation program faculty and candidates. The committee shall provide recommendations and feedback for program improvement that may pertain to the following:
21 May2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
AACTE conducted a survey in April to better understand and assist members as they respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The survey yielded valuable insights about how the pandemic is affecting educator preparation now and the concerns that leaders anticipate as they look ahead to the 2020-21 academic year.
On May 27 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. ET, AACTE is hosting a webinar on the survey results. During this session, you will be able to
- review the survey results
- benchmark your experience against that of your colleagues
- discuss the challenges you are facing—and how you are overcoming them—with your colleagues
11 May2020
AACTE Responds to COVID-19
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Last week, I reported on results of a survey that AACTE conducted in April to better understand and assist members as they respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The survey yielded valuable insights about how the pandemic is affecting educator preparation now and the concerns that leaders anticipate as they look ahead to the 2020-21 academic year.
On May 27 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET, AACTE is hosting a webinar on the survey results. During this session, you will be able to
- review the survey results
- benchmark your experience against that of your colleagues
- discuss the challenges you are facing—and how you are overcoming them—with your colleagues
Joining me to discuss the survey results will be Cynthia F. Grutzik, dean of the Graduate College of Education at San Francisco State University; John A. Kuykendall III, dean of the School of Education at University of Indianapolis; and Timothy J. Wall, professor and dean of the School of Education at Northwest Missouri State University.
Register today to join this important conversation about the impact of the coronavirus and how AACTE can help you and your students during these challenging times. For those unable to attend on May 27, a recording of the session will be posted to the AACTE website.
05 May2020
AACTE Responds to COVID-19
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
To better understand and assist members as they respond to the coronavirus pandemic, AACTE invited all chief institutional representatives to complete a short online survey in early April. Nearly 200 members responded, yielding valuable insights about how the pandemic is affecting educator preparation now and the concerns that leaders anticipate as they look ahead to the 2020-21 academic year. The complete set of findings is available online; highlights include the following:
Instruction
- Virtually all programs have transitioned to fully online instruction, using synchronous and asynchronous methods.
- Faculty have received training in online instruction, and IT support has increased.
- Many institutions are providing devices for students as needed.
30 Apr2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Don’t let the current crisis distract you from connecting with colleagues and advancing your professional interests through service on an AACTE committee. Nominations are open through May 29 for positions on the following AACTE committees:
- Global Diversity
- Government Relations and Advocacy
- Innovation and Technology
- Meetings and Professional Development
- Membership Development and Capacity Building
- Professional Preparation and Accountability
- Research and Dissemination
27 Apr2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
AACTE invites all chief representatives to perform a quick but important service to the association: vote on updated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
As part of its stewardship of the Association, the AACTE Board of Directors oversaw a process last year to review and update the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. These documents describe AACTE’s purpose as a non-profit membership association and lay out the essential features of the association’s governance system. It is recommended that these reviews occur every five years, and they were last revised in 2015.
The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were updated to
- Ensure compliance with Washington, D.C. law
- Bring the Bylaws into alignment with current Association practice and with recognized best practices in non-profit governance
- Incorporate changes recommended by the Board Composition Task Force
- Improve readability and ease of use and eliminate redundancies or contradictions
09 Apr2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
Your Association wants you! Are you ready to become a leader in the national educator preparation community, or do you know someone who is? Nominate yourself or a colleague by May 29 to serve on an AACTE standing committee.
AACTE is currently seeking applications from volunteers to serve on the following standing committees:
- Global Diversity
- Government Relations and Advocacy
- Innovation and Technology
- Meetings and Professional Development
- Membership Development and Capacity Building
- Professional Preparation and Accountability
- Research and Dissemination
11 Mar2020
By Jacqueline E. King, Ph.D.
The 2018 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) covers about 260,000 teachers in 15,000 schools across 48 countries and economies.
The survey found that 67% of U.S. teachers under age 30 claimed teaching was their first career choice, consistent with the average for all participating countries. However, more than 73% of young teachers in Finland and close to 80% of young teachers in Alberta, Canada said teaching was their first choice. Moreover, 85% of young teachers in Japan and over 90% of young teachers in South Korea indicated teaching was their first-choice career.
Positive findings are that teachers in the United States are more likely to have received formal preparation on teaching students with special needs and on teaching in multicultural and/or multilingual settings, and feel better prepared in those areas than their peers in other OECD countries.
