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What role does NCATE play in the field of education?
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NCATE is the professional accrediting body for the teaching field. When
a college of education becomes accredited, it means that the college has
met national professional standards that have answered the question, “what
is important in teacher preparation today?” The standards were reached
through nationwide consensus of representatives of all education stakeholders—teachers,
teacher educators, state and local policymakers, and school specialists.
Representatives of these stakeholders visit the college of education and
review the performance of its candidates, its programs, structure, and
governance to determine if the college meets the NCATE standards. NCATE
elevates the entire teaching profession through its standards-setting
and review process.
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I want to become a teacher and am looking at education
schools. What does NCATE accreditation mean to me?
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Graduates of NCATE-accredited institutions will be better prepared for
new, more demanding licensing expectations. NCATE has aligned its standards
with model state licensing standards that many states use. The largest
research study to date on teacher qualifications, conducted by the Educational
Testing Service and released in 1999, showed that graduates of NCATE-accredited
institutions significantly outperform other candidates on state licensing
exams. ETS concluded that attending an NCATE institution increases the
likelihood that candidates will meet state requirements. In short, you
will be well prepared for challenges in the classroom.
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What is the benefit of attending an NCATE-accredited
college of education?
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NCATE accreditation is the profession’s “seal of approval.”
It means that the college of education has met national professional standards
for the preparation of teachers and other school specialists. Prospective
teachers have assurance that programs at the college are up-to-date, relevant,
and research-based, and will prepare them well for performance-based licensing
examinations.
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Must all schools be accredited?
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No. Each state determines if colleges of education must become professionally
accredited. Accreditation now is voluntary. Many schools seek it to attain
a mark of distinction and program excellence. However, one-third of the
states require NCATE accreditation of their public institutions. Forty-six
states have partnerships with NCATE to increase the rigor of the review
of the college of education. As a result of the partnerships, NCATE standards
have been adopted or adapted as the state’s standards for all institutions
in 26 states.
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How do I discover which schools are best for me?
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Visit different types of institutions to get a feel for what you are
comfortable with. Are you comfortable at a large institution with 30,000
students, or would you feel lost in an institution of that size? Would
you like to attend a public or a private university? What is the range
of tuition that you can pay? How much are you likely to receive in loans?
Gain as much information as you can from the institution’s website. You
can connect to each accredited institution from NCATE’s
list of accredited institutions by following the available links
to the college’s website. That way, you will be knowledgeable when
you talk to representatives of the institution and can ask specific questions
that may not have been answered via the website.
Talk to representatives of the colleges of education. If you know the
subject you would like to teach, try to schedule an appointment with a
faculty member in that area. |
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The colleges of education I am applying to
are well-regarded schools, but they are not NCATE-accredited. Why not?
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NCATE-accredited schools produce two-thirds of the nation’s new teacher graduates. Many well-known institutions are accredited but a few are not (Harvard). However, some schools are candidates for accreditation. Some institutions focus more on degrees in other areas of education, e.g., education policy, rather than on producing teachers. In states that encourage institutions to meet professional standards, e.g., North Carolina , more institutions are accredited. |
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I want to be a teacher, but cannot afford college
tuition. How do I get a loan, grant, or scholarship to a college?
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The Federal Student Aid Information
Center (1-800-433-3243) maintains information on available student
aid. Information on financial aid is also available from the U.
S. Department of Education.
CASHE is a free financial aid clearinghouse
of information on the Internet containing thousands of private scholarships,
grants, internships, fellowships, loans, and more. The CASHE information
is for all students, undergraduate through post-doctorate and non-traditional.
Colleges and Universities: Request information from an institution’s
financial aid office. The College Cost Book, issued by the College Board,
is a guide to finding money to pay for college and applying for aid. It
can be found in school career centers or libraries.
Military: The Service members
Opportunity Colleges Website has more information about financial
aid opportunities.
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How do I find out which schools offer specific
programs? I want to teach science. How do I find the institutions with
teacher preparation programs in science?
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Each institution's link provides a list of nationally recognized programs in specific content areas.
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I live in State A, but am relocating to
another state. What should I do to be able to teach in the state where
I am relocating?
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One of the many benefits of graduating from an NCATE accredited institution
is that graduates generally find it easier to apply for licensure if they
move out of state. Graduates of NCATE accredited schools are often able
to transfer their existing teacher qualifications from state to state
based on the  NCATE specific
reciprocity agreement. Most states also require a satisfactory score
on the state licensing exam. In states without an NCATE specific reciprocity
agreement, the state may have additional requirements. Contact your State
Contact for more information.
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