Colleges for Teacher Education

AACTE Weekly News Briefs | December 9 , 2008___________

. . . delivered to your inbox so you can enjoy up-to-date news on Colleges of Education, Teaching and the Classroom, Campaigns, Legislation, STEM Teacher Issues, International Teacher Issues, Grants, and Upcoming Events. Please click on linked headlines for full story.







AACTE ANNOUNCEMENTS



AACTE 61st ANNUAL MEETING & EXHIBITS

February 6 - 9, 2009
Hyatt Regency Chicago - Virtual Tour
Chicago, IL





REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Click Here to register for the 61st Annual Meeting & Exhibits. This will lead you through creating an account which you can use for future meetings. If you registered for the Accountability, Accreditation, and Quality Conference, Click Here to use the account you set up when registering for that meeting.



AACTE Board Elections

All AACTE Institutional Representatives are eligible to vote for new members of the AACTE Board of Directors, one of the most important benefits of AACTE membership. Please take advantage of this privilege and make your voice heard. For more information please click here.





NATIONAL NEWS



Transition Education Team Hits Ground Running

From Education Daily *login required*

The Obama education transition team, led by two veterans of the education policy arena, is soliciting input from a variety of education groups and top lawmakers, as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to move quickly on a variety of domestic fronts after his inauguration.




Teacher Turnover, Tenure Policies, and the Distribution of Teacher Quality

From the Center for American Progress

In recent years education reformers have focused a great deal of attention on strategies for enhancing teacher quality. This attention makes sense, as a growing body of evidence points to the overriding importance of teachers in promoting student achievement.



The New Team Linda Darling-Hammond

From the New York Times

As he prepares to take office, President-elect Barack Obama is relying on a small team of advisers who will lead his transition operation and help choose the members of his administration. This article contains part of a series of profiles of potential members of the administration.



Gates Urges U.S. to Be Educational Change Agent

From Education Week

Bill Gates, the co-founder of the world’s largest philanthropy, today called on President-elect Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress to expand support for education and make the federal government “a dynamic agent of school reform,” even as the nation struggles through grim economic times.



Better Data Seen as Vital to Improving Nation's Schools

From Education Week

Imagine the research possibilities if every student in the country carried a “virtual backpack” stuffed with statistics on his or her entire educational history. Educators and researchers could plumb the backpacks for data to figure out how to target instruction more effectively or to determine which educational interventions work and which don’t.



Economy's Effects on Education

By International Reading Association

Schools, administrators, and teachers are already feeling the effects of this economic downturn, and will for years to come. This article includes a compilation of recent statistics and information from various sources on the effects of the current economy.



American Students Show Steady Progress in Math, Rank High in International Education Comparison TIMSS

From the U.S. Department of Education

American students in grades four and eight showed steady improvements in mathematics since 1995 and generally rank at least in the top one-third compared to other countries, according to an international education comparison released today. In the latest report of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the ongoing evaluation of 36 to 48 countries revealed that in 2007 the U.S. consistently rated at least in the top one-third and in some cases the top one-fourth of participating nations.





NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY



Early results are mixed, misunderstanding common on Indiana charter schools

From Indiana University

A comprehensive evaluation of data has found results that support both sides of the debate regarding charter schools in Indiana, but most of all finds that stakeholders have many misunderstandings about the schools. The Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP) at the Indiana University School of Education conducted the "Study of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Charter Schools in Indiana" following a request from the Indiana General Assembly.



Tenn. to Change Training, Licensure Rules for Principals

From Education Week

Education officials in Tennessee are poised to launch a major overhaul of its system for preparing principals, in a move aimed at improving the quality of the state’s cadre of school leaders.



Preschool Teachers Better Qualified, Study Says

From CBS2 Chicago

A new study of the early childhood workforce in Illinois finds that education levels for lead preschool teachers have dramatically increased over the past seven years. The study, Who's Caring for the Kids? The Status of the Early Childhood Workforce in Illinois — 2008, was conducted by researchers at National-Louis University McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership and the Early Childhood and Parenting Collaborative at the University of Illinois.



UA to Open STEM Teacher Education Resource Center at Biosphere 2

From Arizona State University

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) has awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant to The University of Arizona's B2 Institute, located at Biosphere 2, to establish a teacher resource and training center that will expand the quality and retention of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers in Arizona.



Texas A&M Education Students Explore Podcasts as Learning Tools

From PR Web

Recently, Robin Rackley, clinical assistant professor in early childhood education in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC) in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University, challenged education students in her language-arts methods class to create a podcast based on a piece of literature appropriate to the grade level they will be teaching.



Walden University Announces Major Teacher Education Initiative at Clinton Global Initiative Meeting

From PR Newswire

Walden University, a leading online university and member of the Laureate International Universities network, announced it will provide 100 full scholarships to highly deserving teachers to help them earn their master's degree in education.





Other Announcements



ACE, VA to Convene Regional Meetings on New GI Bill Implementation

The American Council on Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, will host three regional meetings to educate campus leaders about provisions of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 and solicit input on the implementation of payment systems.

These meetings are open to representatives of the higher education community on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations:

January 6, 2009: Los Angeles, California
January 9, 2009: Washington, D.C.
January 14, 2009: Chicago, Illinois
Further information and online registration is available.



AERA Grants and Fellowship Programs

AERA Grants and Fellowship Programs provide funding to help graduate students and early career scholars develop research skills and conduct studies in education and related fields. Application deadlines for the 2009 competitions are fast approaching! Please follow the links below for more information.



AERA-AIR (A²) Fellows Program
Application deadline: December 15, 2008.

AERA-ETS Fellowship Program in Measurement
Application deadline: December 15, 2008.
· Minority Fellowship Program in Education Research
Application deadline: December 15, 2008.

· AERA Grants Program
The next application deadlines are August 29, 2008; January 7, 2009; and March 6, 2009.

From the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is accepting applications to serve on committees responsible for reviewing and revising standards in two areas: English as a New Language and Social Studies-History. To access the online application click here. The application will be available through December 12, 2008, 5:00pm EST.



For assistance or additional information please contact NBPTS at nominations@nbpts.org.



Alyssa J. Mangino

Communications Manager

AACTE

1307 New York Ave., NW Suite 300

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 478-4596 -Direct

(202) 457-8095 -Fax

amangino@aacte.org