The Latest at NCTR
Earlier this month, NCTR's CEO Anissa Listak attended the Teacher Pipeline Innovation Convening in Indianapolis, which was organized and facilitated by Public Impact and hosted by Marian University. Made possible through the generosity of The Walton Family Foundation via a grant through The Mind Trust, the event brought together education thought leaders and funders from across the country to learn, rethink and discuss the challenges of and opportunities for transforming teacher preparation.
During the convening, Anissa spoke to attendees about the residency model and its ability to connect institutes of higher education, school districts and non-profit organizations in partnership to create pipelines of highly effective teachers.
|
|
|
News from Our Partners
Project Inspire announced it will expand its program offerings to include preparation for aspiring elementary educators and launch a new partnership with Lee University. "The expansion will double the number of pre-service teachers in the 2017 cohort, with plans to double again in 2018." Read more about these efforts in the Times Free Press.
|
|
Education Policy Updates
Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos, President-elect Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Education. Watch the full committee hearing on HELP's website.
The Committee was divided along party lines, with general support expressed by Republican members, while sharp criticism came from Democrats. In exchanges with Senators, DeVos was asked about school choice, school accountability, student protections, carrying out the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and several other areas under the purview of the US Department of Education.
Read analysis and commentary highlighting the often contentious nature of the hearing in Education Week, The Washington Post, New York Times, and the Foundation for Excellent Education's take here. The Education Writers Association also published wrap-up coverage of the hearing on their Educated Reporter blog.
Margaret Spellings, former Education Secretary under George W. Bush's administration and a leader in the passage of No Child Left Behind, spoke to NPR about her advice to Betsy DeVos. Spellings and two other former Education Secretaries drafted a letter formally endorsing DeVos on January 13, 2017.
|
|
|
|
|
Featured News
Multilingual Teacher Talent and Barriers to Entry
In the recently released "Teacher Talent Untapped: Multilingual Paraprofessionals Speak About the Barriers to Entering the Profession," New America's Dual Language Learners National Work Group explored the financial, linguistic and bureaucratic challenges facing this uniquely skilled pool of potential teacher talent. Based on work with focus groups comprised of multilingual paraprofessionals across five cities, the paper emphasizes the need to prepare dual language candidates - those who both understand the challenges and intricacies of working within specific schools and districts while also reflecting back the growing diversity of the student population. Key takeaways from the paper include:
- The licensure exams, student teaching requirements, and education costs - which vary from state to state - can be both rigid and financially burdensome to otherwise qualified candidates.
- There is a lack of reliable information on pathways into teaching.
- Language skills, cultural competency and educational expertise tend to be undervalued in paraprofessionals.
In addition to highlighting the Minneapolis Residency Program and its efforts to provide paraprofessionals with a stipend, reduced tuition and hands-on instruction, New America points to policy shifts that would help facilitate the preparation of paraprofessionals. "Since only one in five multilingual paraprofessionals holds at least a bachelor’s degree, on-the-job Grow-Your-Own or residency programs can provide targeted financial, academic, and social supports to individuals on the path to the BA." They also take note of new opportunities for states to offer licensure through the Every Student Succeeds Act, which "presents a prime avenue for states to innovate in designing quality outcomes-based pathways for nontraditional teacher candidates like paraprofessionals..."
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
2018 Global Learning Fellowship
"The NEA Foundation's 2018 Global Learning Fellowship is now accepting applications for this fully-funded opportunity of a lifetime! As a fellow, you will engage in 12 months of globally-focused professional development with other educators throughout the United States." The deadline to apply is February 28, 2017. APPLY
|
|
|
|
|
|
