| NCATE accreditation responds
to the public's expectation that colleges of education produce
teachers and other school specialists who meet rigorous standards,
and who can help students learn. In a public opinion poll
conducted by Penn and Schoen, 82 percent of the public favors
requiring teachers to graduate from nationally accredited
professional schools. |
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| To achieve accreditation under
NCATE’s standards, universities and colleges must offer
intellectually rigorous programs which are relevant to the
needs of today’s classrooms. NCATE wants to know "what
do candidates know and what are they able to do?" |
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| Please visit our sections on
standards, research, resources, and first
accreditation for more helpful information. |
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| Did You Know? |
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- NCATE accredits a wide range of schools with a variety
of missions.
- Over one-third of schools in NCATE’s system are
small, private independent colleges.
- NCATE emphasizes content knowledge, professional
knowledge, and practice in the classroom.
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| Why is Professional Accreditation
Important? |
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| The intricacies of teaching
a child to read, to solve math problems, and to understand
scientific concepts, should not be a trial and error proposition.
And it does not have to be. |
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| Professional accreditation
has played a critical role in the standard of living that
we enjoy in America today. Much that we take for granted—from
the bridges we cross to the highways we use to the health
care we receive—are the result of efforts of professionals
in various fields who produce and live by high standards.
Accreditation standards are the bedrock upon which the established
professions have built their reputation and garnered the esteem
of American society. |
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| NCATE Accreditation: What it
Means to the Public: |
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- the school of education underwent rigorous external
review by professionals;
- candidate performance is thoroughly assessed throughout
the program and before he or she is recommended for licensure;
- the programs meet standards set by the teaching field
at large, including classroom teachers.
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| The New Professional
Teacher graduating from an NCATE-accredited institution:
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- is able to handle the demands of a classroom on day
one—not through on-the-job training;
- knows the subject matter and a variety of ways to teach
it to ensure student learning;
- can manage classrooms with students from widely diverse
backgrounds;
- has a broad liberal arts education;
- is able to explain why he or she uses a particular
teaching strategy based on research and best practice;
- reflects on practice and changes what does not work;
- is able to apply effective methods of teaching students
of different backgrounds;
- has had a number of diverse clinical experiences in
P–12 schools and studies under a wide variety of
master teachers during a coherent program of clinical
education;
- nurtures the growth and development of each student
in his or her classes.
|
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| What Does NCATE Accreditation
Mean for Teacher Candidates? |
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| Teacher candidates from
NCATE-accredited institutions will be better prepared for
new, more demanding initial licensing expectations in many
states, and for board certification through the new National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards. NCATE is working
with the Council of Chief State School Officers and NBPTS
to ensure that accreditation, licensing, and certification
standards are compatible. |
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| Many states have reciprocity
agreements based on graduation from NCATE-accredited schools,
so that graduates from NCATE-accredited institutions will
generally find it easier to apply for licensure when they
move out of state. |
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| What Evidence is There That NCATE
Makes a Difference? |
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| A recent study in Kentucky
found that the vast majority of that state’s new teachers
said that their education prepared them very well for their
jobs in K–12 schools. Over 90 percent of new teachers
said they were extremely well prepared, very well prepared,
or moderately well prepared. Over two-thirds said they were
extremely well prepared or very well prepared. Almost all
of these new teachers graduated from NCATE-accredited institutions
in that state. |
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| Testimonials from institutions
that have completed the accreditation process report that
the self-study for NCATE review helped them improve their
programs. The same process has worked successfully for many
years in medicine, law, engineering, architecture, psychology,
social work, and other professions. |
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Read an introductory brochure
about NCATE,  "NCATE:
Making a Difference" |
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back to the top  |
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