Resolution 2011-1: National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) Teacher Education Programs’ Rankings
Whereas, U.S. News & World Report and the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) announced a partnership to rate the quality of teacher education programs in the U.S.;
Whereas, teacher education programs have a long, credible history of evaluation by national and regional accreditation agencies, sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education, state Departments of Education, Boards of Regents, and other professional organizations, which are available for public review;
Whereas, the methodology to be employed is flawed as noted by deans of education at some of the top research universities, (http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/02/08) and that non-responders are to be given estimated rankings and faulted for their refusal to participate;
Whereas, challenges to these rankings can be made subsequent only to their publication, thereby reducing or possibly negating their impact;
Action Statement:
Be it resolved that the Association formulate a statement directed to the NCTQ challenging the proposed use of its standards in order to rank teacher education programs and to publish these rankings in U.S. News & World Report
Be it further resolved that the Association produce a press release on this issue for distribution to delegates and national media
Resolution 2011-2 Amendment to Definition of “Highly Qualified Teacher”
Whereas, there is an amendment to the highly qualified teacher definition in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA);
Whereas, this amendment codified into law, through the 2012-2013 school year, a U.S. Department of Education regulation that allows thousands of underprepared and inexperienced individuals to teach, and denies parents notification of the teacher’s underprepared status;
Action Statement:
Be it resolved that the Association urge Congress to repeal this amendment
Be it resolved that the Association work to develop a rational and transparent definition of teacher quality
Be it further resolved that the Association’s definition be disseminated to appropriate parties.
Resolution 2011-3 Pay-for-Performance
Whereas, there is a national trend toward evaluating teachers based on the concept of “pay-for-performance”;
Whereas, multiple systems have been or are being developed that encompass “pay-for-performance”;
Action Statement:
Be it resolved that the Association develop a scholarly response to this trend
Be it further resolved that the Association’s findings be disseminated in an appropriate manner.
Resolution 2012-1 State Teacher Education Program Approval
Whereas state legislatures, state departments of education, and state professional standards boards are given legal authority to provide oversight and approval of educator preparation programs;
Whereas SCDE’s are primarily responsible to develop and implement the standards for teacher candidates and program approval;
Whereas curricular mandates are not effective means to assure quality teacher education programs; and
Whereas careful attention must be paid to the effective preparation of highly effective educators whose effectiveness is best measured by candidate competence.
Action Statement:
Be it resolved that ATE encourage state agencies, accrediting agencies, and institutions of higher education to continue the use of candidate competence and related performance assessments in the program approval process; and
ATE continue to articulate and defend best practices related to program development, educator preparation programs, and program approval.
Resolution 2012-2 Online Teaching and Learning
Whereas there are a growing number of teacher education courses and programs being offered in online format, including many in teacher education programs;
Whereas ATE members are uniquely qualified to identify and promote effective teaching and learning practices
Whereas there are already externally developed indicators for online teaching and learning.
Action Statement:
Resolve that ATE must formulate its position and state such in a position paper to be promulgated by an association group to be identified by the ATE President and Board of Directors during her term of office.
Resolution 2012-3 Support for Federal Department of Education
Whereas we are approaching a presidential election cycle; and
Whereas there has been discussion concerning the continuation of the federal Department of Education;
Action Statement:
Be it resolved that ATE reaffirms our support for the federal Department of Education and that we encourage the ATE membership to carefully evaluate the platforms and positions of the candidates and their respective political parties.
