College earns NCATE accreditation
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College earns NCATE accreditation |
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show that teacher quality is the most important factor in P-12 student achievement.
But how do we know that our children's teachers enter the classroom ready
to help them learn? Professional accreditation is one way to ensure the
public that colleges of education are graduating well-qualified teachers
ready for today's classroom.
The University of Kentucky College of Education has proven its commitment by achieving continuing accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The College of Education is one of 54 schools of education that received accreditation from NCATE's Unit Accreditation Board in its most recent round of decisions. The college was one of 33 institutions across the country that piloted the new NCATE standards during fall 2000 and spring 2001. A new feature of the accreditation process was development of the college's NCATE website. It was designed for specialists to easily access and review evidence of the college's best practices. The website was an ambitious undertaking and attracted the attention of several universities also seeking accreditation. NCATE-accredited schools meet rigorous standards set by the profession and members of the public. NCATE standards expect accredited schools of education to ensure that subject matter content, and how to teach it, is a priority; to emphasize school district collaboration; to ensure that candidates use technology in instruction; and that they prepare teacher candidates to teach students from diverse backgrounds. What was particularly noted during the accreditation process this year was the College's website created for NCATE specialists to review documentation of the college's best practices. The website, designed by college webmaster Bill Stilwell, Deans Shapiro and Sandidge, and the staff of the Instructional Technology Center, was an ambitious undertaking. It has, however, garnered the attention of several state universities. (See newsletter)
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Content by: Josh Shepherd - Updated by the Webmaster on July 18, 2002 (13:22)