NCATE Blue Ribbon Panel Initiates a Mainstream Move to More Clinically Based Preparation of Teachers
Washington, D.C. - The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) announced the formation of an expert panel on clinical preparation and partnerships, signaling the beginning of a sea of change in the preparation of the nation's teachers. The work of the Panel, called the NCATE Blue Ribbon Panel on Clinical Preparation, Partnerships and Improved Student Learning, will culminate in recommendations for restructuring the preparation of teachers to reflect teaching as a practice-based profession akin to medicine, nursing, or clinical psychology. Practice-based professions require not only a solid academic base, but strong clinical components, a supported induction experience, and ongoing quire not only a solid academic base, but strong clinical components, a supported induction experience, and ongoing opportunities for learning. This redesign is intended to bring educator preparation into better alignment with the urgent needs of P-12 schools. Such changes in the way teachers and other P-12 educators are prepared potentially have far-ranging effects on the structure of schools of education. The professional preparation of teachers cannot be achieved by preparation programs acting alone. Intensive clinical preparation, especially when it is school-embedded, requires the collaboration of all the stakeholders represented on the Blue Ribbon Panel. The group will issue a report of its findings and recommendations when its work is completed, most likely near the end of 2010.  Some schools of education have already developed rich partnerships with districts aimed at boosting P-12 achievement, especially in low-performing schools. NCATE featured a few examples of these schools of education at a June press briefing announcing a redesign of accreditation to help schools of education move to a target level of excellence on accreditation standards, and to encourage institutions to create Transformation Initiatives which focus on P-12 learning needs and improve the evidentiary base of the profession. Also check out www.InsideHigherEd.com.  
 
Reform Bills to Governor's Desk
Congratulations to the General Assembly for passing groundbreaking legislation on teacher evaluation and alternative certification.  The legislative process brought together all the education stakeholders to produce a forward-looking and durable set of reforms that will help Illinois school children for years to come and better position Illinois for up to $400 million from the federal "Race to the Top" competition.  The State Journal-Register offered wrapups of the Senate vote Wednesday and the House vote Monday.  The votes were also covered by the Quad-City Times, Illinois Public Radio (pc link here, mac link avail here), the Decatur Herald-Review and the Bloomington Pantagraph. The Chicago Tribune editorialized on the legislation earlier in the week.
 
New Rockford Program for At-Risk Students
School officials hope that a structured, small-school environment is the answer for students who otherwise would be on a path to dropping out or expulsion.. Read more...

Race to the Top Money
Enticed by the prize of $4.35 billion in federal money for schools, Illinois and other states are polishing their academic credentials, legislating away obstacles to reform and turning on the charm. Read more...

State Behind on Payments to Schools
Say the words out loud to get a feel for the size of it: Forty-five million, two hundred and six thousand, six hundred and fifty-four dollars, and sixty-one cents.  That's how much the state is behind in payments to your local schools. Read more...

Financial Capability Challenge
Meeting with students, educators, and community leaders, Secretary Duncan and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner recently announced the first step in an effort to promote stronger financial capability among students: the National Financial Capability Challenge.  This non-monetary awards program challenges students to take control of their financial future, by learning about personal finance.  It also challenges teachers and schools to incorporate personal finance topics into instruction.  Those teachers who sign up to participate will receive a helpful teachers' toolkit.  In March, students will take a voluntary online exam to demonstrate what they have learned, assess their financial knowledge, and learn more about why financial capability is important.  Top scoring students from each school will receive awards in April, and outstanding teachers and schools will be recognized.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.challenge.treas.gov/.