A College-School Connection to Renewal.

Overview & Synopsis

The National Network for Educational Renewal (NNER) consists of higher education institutions and partner K-12 schools promoting simultaneous renewal of teacher education and K-12 schools. The network helps renew teacher education by preparing educators who will: (1) provide all students with equitable opportunities for becoming educated, contributing citizens; (2) become experts at teaching and learning; (3) inquire continuously about optimal conditions for learning for all students; (4) model the highest qualities of democratic citizenry and community responsibility; and (5) be moral stewards committed to the value of the individual, the common good, and the benefits of schooling to society. After describing the Nebraska NNER, this paper discusses outcomes of its first 3 years. It then connects the network's goals to past educational reform efforts, including Excellence in Education, the Holmes Group, and the Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy. The paper describes the goals of Creighton University (Nebraska) regarding membership, then lists 19 postulates, products of John Goodlad's research on teaching and teacher education, that provide direction for moving to more powerful teacher education programs. Finally, the paper describes some examples of the network's implementation in one college-school partnership. (SM)