Southwest Minnesota
State University, Professional Education, and the National Council for Accreditation
of Teacher Education (NCATE)
July 2003
What is NCATE?
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) exists
to strengthen the preparation of the nation's teachers, educational leaders,
and other professional specialists. It involves a continuum of teacher preparation
and development that begins with pre-service and continues with advanced professional
development, using a new performance-based system of accreditation. A coalition
of 33 professional organizations supports NCATE. There is a steady growth of
NCATE accredited institutions. As of 2001, 517 institutions are accredited and
the number of candidates has tripled in the past five years. Minnesota is one
of 46 states that have a partnership with NCATE. This means that the MN Board
of Teaching (BOT) and NCATE coordinate the accreditation process. The six NCATE
standards and the Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice are both aligned
to the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium standards (INTASC,
a task force for the Council of Chief State School Officers) for pre-service
teachers. The NCATE standards for advanced teacher development programs are
aligned to the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). One
of the embedded elements in the NCATE 2000 standards requires candidates to
use technology effectively as an instructional tool. Accredited institutions
are required to articulate the research base upon which programs are developed.
There are voluntary standards for professional development schools. NCATE accredited
institutions must demonstrate that teacher candidates know their subjects and
how to teach them effectively so that ALL P-12 students learn. For more information
go to www.ncate.org.
(Taken from NCATE: A Decade of Growth 1991-2001)
What is the History of NCATE at SMSU and why is it important?
Southwest (Minnesota) State University first submitted the intent to seek initial accreditation to NCATE in 1993 and had a visit in the fall of 1996. The University was not sufficiently organized by national standards at that time. The NCATE process was valuable because campus leaders learned how the program was perceived by other professionals. Some areas cited by the Board of Examiners Team (BOE) as strengths of the program were monitoring and advising candidates, ensuring competence of candidates, collaboration, and governance and accountability clearly defined. Some of the areas identified by the BOE Team for review and development were the conceptual framework, diversity, and faculty qualifications. The University is working to develop the national standards.
NCATE standards support the high quality education that is a part of the mission of Southwest Minnesota State University for undergraduate and graduate level programs. The review process provides a systematic means for continuous assessment and advancement of teacher education programs. P-12 schools are seeking NCATE accredited institutions as places to recommend to their graduates and as sources for hiring new teachers. Potential students are asking about national accreditation. Most of the seven Minnesota State Universities have NCATE accreditation. There is a heightened expectation for public accountability, which is welcomed. NCATE accreditation will provide additional national recognition for SMSU. For information go to www.SouthwestMSU.edu/education/bot_ncate.html .
What is involved with the self-study process?
NCATE and the Minnesota Board of Teaching (BOT) have a partnership in the accreditation process. Materials prepared by SMSU for accreditation are used by both the BOT and NCATE review teams. The teacher education accreditation self-study uses a process similar to the North Central Accreditation (NCA) structure being used for the SMSU February 2004 Higher Learning Commission visit. The Accreditation Leadership Team (given below) is composed of the Standards Committee Co-Chairs, Accreditation Coordinator, one or two Resource People, and the Dean of the College of Business, Education, Professional and Graduate Studies. The six Standards Committees include education students, SMSU faculty, P-12 school faculty and administrators, and community members. Each Committee oversees the review of one of the Standards areas. The Leadership Team coordinates the entire self-study process.
What is the schedule for the NCATE visit to SMSU?
The "Intent to Seek Initial NCATE Accreditation" form was submitted on February 23, 2001. In May 2002, with advice from a consultant, the Professional Education Unit decided to delay the NCATE Board of Examiners' visit. The Minnesota BOT visit is scheduled for November 9-12, 2003 and may not be delayed another semester. Since NCATE and the BOT make joint visits, it is anticipated that such a joint visit could occur in four to seven years from November 2003. This plan has been accepted by NCATE.
How can people get more information?
See Accreditation Leadership Team membership (FY2003).
Accreditation Office - IL 242, 507-537-6290, n.cate.bot@SouthwestMSU.edu