Teacher Education
AACTE
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
“The premier voice on educator preparation.”
Contact: Jane West
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to high-quality, evidence-based preparation that assures educators are ready to teach all learners on Day 1. Its over 800 member institutions represent public and private colleges and universities in every state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. AACTE seeks to lead the field in advocacy and capacity building by promoting innovation and effective practices as critical to reforming educator preparation. AACTE members are typically deans and department chairs.
Research and Publications
- Resource Library
- Blanton, L., Pugach, M., Florian, L. (2011) Preparing General Educators to Improve Outcomes for Students with Disabilities. Prepared for AACTE and NCLD.
- Research-to-Practice Spotlight – Series 1: Clinical Practice
- Research-to-Practice Spotlight – Series 2: Building Partnerships (for clinical preparation)
- Research-to-Practice: Clinical Preparation
- Using data for program improvement: A study of promising practices in teacher education
- Assessing school leader preparation program quality: An update on the quality measures tool
- Assessing principal preparation program quality
- Preparing principals: Lessons for higher education and partner districts
- Excellent teachers for each and every child: A guide for state policy
- The changing teacher preparation profession: A report from AACTE’s professional education data system
- Journal of Teacher Education
- Professional Education Data System (PEDS)
- Principal preparation resources
- Common Core State Standards implementation support resources
- Proposed Federal Regulations for Teacher Preparation Programs
Additional Resources
- Webinars
- Quality Support Initiative (resources and support for assessment and/or accreditation)
- Programs & Services
- *edTPA is a performance assessment designed to examine the teaching practices of beginning teachers in each discipline, including special education and the arts. These assessments measure teachers’ abilities to teach content and address the individual needs of students. There are 27 assessments for the different disciplines.
- State chapter support grant program provides an important vehicle for CEEDAR states to disseminate their program reforms and increase stakeholder buy in. AACTE has chapters in 45 states. Click here to contact a state chapter.
- Innovation and change initiative for higher education-based preparation. Emphasizes pedagogy, workforce development to increase the number of Black and Hispanic male teachers, capacity building, documenting and synthesizing research.
- Innovations inventory highlighting members’ innovative practices; includes videos and interviews
- Holmes Program provides mentorship, peer support, and professional development opportunities for high school students, undergraduates, master’s and doctoral students
- Topical Action Groups (TAGs): working groups of individuals who collaborate through online forums with support and funding from AACTE on a common interest or purpose within the field of teacher preparation. Current TAG working group topics are listed below:
- All Things Accreditation
- Assessment of and for Student Learning
- Collaborative Clinical Preparation
- Co-teaching in Clinical Practice
- Diversified Teaching Workforce: Recruitment and Retention
- Education for Sustainability
- High Quality Online Teaching and Learning
- Improving Practices in STEM Educator Preparation
- Internationalization of Teacher Education
- Preparing Educators of English Learners
- Research in Teacher Preparation
- Teacher Education as Moral Community
- Teacher Performance Assessment: Research and Application
- Women in the Deanship
- Guidance in policy development and advocacy
- Networking opportunities through conferences, blogs, newsletters, and webinars
- AACTE could provide space for CEEDAR related meetings at state and national conferences
- Production of data from AACTE PEDS, including demographics for states, colleges, programs and candidates (e.g., average GPA of persons entering a teacher education program).
AACTE resources can be helpful to CEEDAR states and IHEs engaged in educator reform. These resources can help states address issues around program alignment and collaboration as well as stakeholder buy in and communication.
NASDTEC
The National Association of State directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC)
“NASDTEC exercises leadership in matters related to the preparation and certification of professional school personnel.”
Contact: Phillip S. Rogers
The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) is an organization representing professional standards boards and commissions and state departments of education in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the U.S. Territories, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario that are responsible for the preparation, licensure, and discipline of educational personnel. NASDTEC aims to exercise leadership regarding the preparation and certification of professional school personnel. The organization promotes high standards for educators, teacher mobility across state lines, comprehensive personnel screening, and clearinghouse on teacher discipline. Membership includes associate commissioners that oversee teacher preparation and certification in state offices; 100 IHEs have associate memberships.
Database
- *Educator Identification Clearinghouse: the only national database reporting all the discipline actions (i.e., certification/license denied or invalidated, annulled, revoked, suspended, and/or voluntarily surrendered) and the nature of the denial/invalidation. The reported action could range from violent felonies to sexual misconduct to illegal use of controlled substances; or from breach of contract to incompetence
Additional Resources
- The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement for reciprocity supports mobility of educators
- Online Community Knowledge Base (KB) focusing on certification topics
- Piloting a Multistate Educator Lookup System to facilitate cross-state credentialing
- The Professional Educator Standards Boards Association (PESBA) for 13 states with independent educator standards boards
A model code of ethics is forthcoming (comment period begins in January, 2015)
CAEP
The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation
…the new accrediting body committed to excellence in educator preparation.
Contact: Jennifer Carinci
CAEP advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning. Educator preparation providers include traditional institutions of higher education, as well as alternative pathways such as residency programs.
Research & Publications
- Research
- Report: Building an Evidence-Based System for Teacher Preparation
- Report: From Good to Great: Exemplary Teachers Share Perspectives on Increasing Teacher Effectiveness Across the Career Continuum
- Student Data Principles: Data Quality Campaign Partners with CAEP, Others to Safeguard Students’ Personal Information
- Student Perception Survey Pilot
- Academic Audit Research in Teacher Education – Special Interest Group (SIG #174) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA)
- Manuals, Guides and Rubrics
Additional Resources
IRIS
The IRIS Center is a national leader supporting the increased use of evidence-based practices by educators to improve outcomes for all students, especially struggling learners and those with disabilities.
State Policy and Support
CCSSO
Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
“…brings together the top education leaders from every state in the nation.”
Contact: Mary-Dean Barringer
Mary.Dean.Barringer@ccsso.org
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nationwide, nonpartisan, and nonprofit membership organization. The members are committed to creating a public education system that prepares every child for lifelong learning, work, and citizenship. CCSSO’s promise is to lead chiefs and their organizations in this effort by focusing on those state-driven leverage points that are uniquely positioned to address and, through decisive leadership and collective state action, increase their capacity to produce students ready to succeed as productive members of society.
Research & Publications
- Resources & Publications (research papers, videos, webinars, program)
- Canole, M, & Young, M. (2013). Standards for Educational Leaders: An Analysis
- CCSSO Task Force on Educator Preparation and Entry into the Profession published Our Responsibility Our Promise: Transforming Educator Preparation and Entry into the Profession (2012). CCSSO and CEEDAR are developing a complementary document focusing on students with disabilities, available in early 2015.
- InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards and Learning Progressions for Teachers 1.0 (2013)
- InTASC LumiBook: An Interactive Guide to Understanding and Applying the InTASC Standards to Teacher Effectiveness and Student Success (2013)
- Collaborative Programs in General and Special Teacher Education: An Action Guide for Higher Education and State Policy Makers (2007)
- INTASC Model Standards for Licensing General and Special Education Teachers of Students with Disabilities: A Resource for State Dialogue (May 2001)
Special Education Resources for General Educators (SERGE)
- Developing and Supporting School-Ready Leaders – refreshed leader standards (Draft)
- Teacher Leadership Standards
Additional Resources
- Guides to Legislation & Advocacy for state members
- Standards, Assessment & Accountability
- Education Data & Information Systems
- Education Workforce focuses on the most important factors in student achievement: Effective teachers and leaders
Education Workforce Programs
- State Consortium on Educator Effectives (SCEE): topical and national meetings
- The Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC)
- Net Network for Transforming Educator Preparation (NTEP)
- Developing and Supporting School-Ready Leaders
- Focus on educator preparation to address college and career readiness
- Can provide assistance aligning federal projects and work
- Share tools and resources developed by NTEP
- Forums for discussion: State Consortium on Educator Effectiveness can integrate lessons from CEEDAR and NTEP states
- National networking opportunities
- Information and insights about what other states are doing
- Communication plans and templates
- Rubric for progress on the chiefs’ taskforce recommendations
- Connection to colleagues across the nation
NASDSE
The National Association of State directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
“…committed to a performance-based educational system responsive to the needs of all children and youth, including those with disabilities.”
Contact: Nancy Reder
NASDSE operates for the purpose of providing services to state agencies to facilitate their efforts to maximize educational outcomes for individuals with disabilities. NASDSE’s members include the state directors of special education or other persons designated by their state education agency who have specific responsibility for directing, coordinating or supervising programs and services for the education of students with disabilities. NASDSE’s members include the state directors of special education in the states, the U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Agency and the Freely Associated States (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia).
Research & Publications
- National Update of Case Law 1998 to the Present Under the IDEA and Section 504/A.D.A
- Graduation Requirements for Students with Disabilities: Policy Recommendations
- High School Reform: Integration of Special Education
- Growth Models and Students with Disabilities: Report of State Interviews
Additional Resources
- The IDEA Partnership brought special and general education partners together to impact fundamental changes by working with stakeholders on shared issues and concerns. This work is now subsumed under the new National Center for Systemic Improvement.
- Contact: Joanne Cashman, joanne.cashman@nasdse.org.
- Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement (2014)
- Leading by Convening video
- *Opportunities to communicate with special education directors across the states
- Communication blasts
- Surveys conducted on behalf of policy makers, state directors and others to address current issues related to state policies and practices
- Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS): NASDE has worked collaboratively with the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) to develop three Blueprints for promoting Response to Intervention (RtI). These documents provide implementation guidelines and resources for experienced people to implement RtI initiatives at state, district, and school building level. NASDE has also compiled a book “Rti Research for Practice”, an annotated bibliography on research about RtI.
- Tools on teacher effectiveness
- Training for new special education directors
- Assistance developing communication plans to work with stakeholders in productive discussions to build good will
- NASDSE has produced a variety of documents, including the following:
NGA
National Governor’s Association (NGA)
“The collective voice of the nation’s governors”
Contact: Sarah Silverman
The NGA is a bipartisan public policy organization through which governors identify priority issues, share best practices, speak with a collective voice on public policy and governance issues at the state and national levels, and develop innovative solutions to improve state government and support the principles of federalism.
The NGA Center for Best Practices provides governors information they need to make policy decisions. The Federal Relations Office ensures the governors’ views are represented in shaping federal policy. Staff at the NGA provide services to governors’ offices and support other state entities at the behest of the governor.
Research & Publications
- Center Publications
- Improving Educational Outcomes: How State Policy Can Support School Principals as Instructional Leaders
- Using Data to Guide State Education Policy and Practice
Additional Resources
- Effective Principals Key To Teacher, Student Success
- Assessments Key Part of State Standards Implementation
- Technical assistance to states and territories on issues related to the education pipeline from early care and education through K-12 to postsecondary and workforce
- Specific projects related to timely needs of governors and their staff, including for example efforts to raise standards, improve teacher and principal preparation, expand the academic focus of early learning opportunities, expand access to early care and education, build stronger workforce pipelines, and strengthen accountability for postsecondary programs.
- Engagement of NGA experts to offer insight into best practices and recommended courses of action related to education policy and practice
Supporting the Teaching Profession
CEC
The Council for Exceptional Children
“CEC works to improve the educational success of children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.”
Contact: Deborah A. Zeigler
The Council for Exceptional Children is an international community of professionals who are the voice and vision of special and gifted education. CEC provides expertise and leadership, and works collaboratively with strategic partners to ensure that children and youth with exceptionalities are valued and full participating members of society.
Research and Publications
- Policy Insider(sign up for weekly email updates)
- TEACHING Exceptional Children(focuses on classroom practice)
- Exceptional Children(focuses on research)
Additional Resources
- CEC Conference
- Webinars
- What Every Educator Needs to Know About Upcoming Changes to Special Education Policy, Deb Ziegler.
- CEC/CAEP Professional Program Recognition
- CEC Initial and Advanced Preparation Standards (aligned with CAEP)
- Specialty Sets for Initial and Advanced Preparation Standards (2012)
- CEC Professional Ethical Principles and Practice Standards
- Bateman, D. & Bateman, C. (2014)A Principal’s Guide to Special education 3rd Edition
- Issue Briefs: Promoting Access & Achievement for Children and Youth with Exceptionalities in PK-12 Education; School Climate and Mental Health; Preparing Future Educators to Meet the Needs of Children with Disabilities Special Education Research & Development: Supporting Educational Excellence for Children & Youth with Disabilities
- CEC’s Position on Special Education Teacher Evaluation: A Toolkit for Special Educators (2012)
TASH
TASH
“TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy.”
Contact: Barb Trader
TASH is the go-to resource for the education of students with the most significant impact of disability and complex support needs. The mission of TASH is to promote the full inclusion and participation of children and adults with severe disabilities in every aspect of their community and to eliminate the social injustices that diminish human rights. TASH was founded by education researchers and all inclusive practices advanced by TASH are evidence-based.
Research & Publications (members only)
- Journal: Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (RPSD)
- Connections, a quarterly best practices magazine.
Additional Resources
- Webinars (discounted rate for members)
- Advocacy for inclusive education, community living, employment, diversity & cultural competency, and human rights
- Advocacy alerts and a blog
- Resolutions that outline TASH’s official position and often indicate critical areas of need in policy, practice, research and advocacy
Leadership Support
NCPEA
The National Council of Professors of Educational Administration
http://www.ncpeapublications.org/
“Leading for Learning”
Contact: Marc Shelton
mshelton@georgefox.edu
NCPEA serves the interests and needs of professors of educational administration and practicing school leaders and is dedicated to the practice and study of educational administration.
Research & Publications
- Best Practices of Award-Winning Elementary Principals (Book) –Sandra Harris
- Best Practices of Award-Winning Secondary Principals (Book)– Sandra Harris
- Talking Points: News, Views and opinions on leadership in education
Additional Resources
- K–12 Initiatives
- Newsletter and blog
- New standards adopted in 2011 by Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) and CAEP
UCEA
University Council for Educational Administrators (UCEA)
URL: http://www.ucea.org/
“Quality leadership matters.”
Contact: Barbara Pazey
University Council for Educational Administrators (UCEA) is a consortium of higher education institutions committed to advancing the preparation and practice of education leaders for the benefit of schools and children. To accomplish its mission, UCEA promotes, sponsors, and disseminates research on the essential problems of practice; improves the preparation and professional development of school leaders and professors; and influences policy and practice through establishing and fostering collaborative networks.
Research & Publications
- Professional journals, periodicals, etc.
- Educational Administration Quarterly
- The Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership
- The Journal of Research on Leadership Education
- UCEA Monograph Series
- Hitt, D. H., Tucker, P. D., & Young, M. D. (2012) The Professional Pipeline for Educational Leadership. The University Council for Educational Administration.
Additional Resources
- Designing Purposeful and Coherent Leadership Preparation Curriculum: A Curriculum Mapping Guide
- The Research Base Supporting the ELCC Standards: Grounding Leadership Preparation & the Educational Leadership Constituent Council Standards in Empirical Research
- INSPIRE Leadership 360 is the INSPIRE-Leadership Survey Suite launched by UCEA in 2013 to assist graduate programs in educational leadership with program understanding, improvement, and planning
- Strategies for School System Leaders on District-Level Change (yearly publication)
- Preparation of professors of educational leadership programs
- Training modules for diversity and leadership
- New ISLLC standards in October, 2014
- Program centers include:
- The Center for Research on the Superintendency & District Governance
- The Center for Leadership in Law and Education
- The Center for the Study of Academic Leadership
- The Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education
- The Center for the Study of Leadership and Ethics
- The Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice
- National Center for the Evaluation of Leadership and Preparation and Practice Center
- The Center for the Study of Leadership in Urban Schools
- Opportunities for graduate students
- Policy Reports
