Approval of Teacher Education: The Arkansas Model.

Overview & Synopsis

The State of Arkansas, through legislation, has set new standards for schools of education. The new standards mandate changes affecting the following: (1) National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) approval for all teacher education programs in the state; (2) general education requirements for education students that are the same as in other baccalaureate degree programs; (3) the need for students to select a concentration, (K-3) or (4-6), within an elementary education program; (4) the need to establish equivalent degree requirements in an academic major for secondary students; (5) early evaluation of potential education students; (6) experiences sequenced for students; and (7) more careful monitoring of student teaching. In addition, the National Teacher Examination (NTE) Pre-Professional Skills Test will be required for admission to the teacher education program as well as other criteria. Programs will be held accountable for the pass rate on different sections of the NTE. Institutions failing to maintain an 80 percent pass rate will be placed on probationary status for 3 years. (Author/JD)