What's Going on in Teacher Education--The View from Washington.

Overview & Synopsis

Higher education, along with its national voice, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), has reached a critical point in teacher education and must deal with a variety of important issues if collegiate-based teacher education is to continue. The major challenge that higher education faces is that of governance. Many constituencies in the education community, but particularly teacher organizations, are voicing legitimate interests in professional preparation--a matter which until recently was completely under the influence of college-based educators. Accreditation is the second major issue to which higher education and AACTE must respond. Accreditation has developed as a means of quality control in teacher education largely through the efforts of member institutions of AACTE. Currently, however, questions concerning who will set standards and what will be judged are increasing. A third major concern is collaboration. The sharing of governance in teacher education is an idea whose time has come, and collegiate institutions must ensure they are involved. Government relations is another important issue, and higher education must retain its place in teacher education by taking effective action at both state and federal levels to strengthen its power base. AACTE is responding forcefully at both levels. A fifth area of concern is continuing professional development, including supply and demand and governance of inservice education. (PB)