States, programs, and schools have long focused on the inputs of teacher preparation--the rules for candidates and the preparation programs they attend--because inputs were thought to predict teacher effectiveness, and because they were often the best option available. But in the early 2000s, policymakers began trying to evaluate preparation…

The "Annual Joint Report of Pre-Kindergarten through Higher Education in Tennessee" complies with the requirements established in T.C.A. § 49-1-302(a)(10). State law directs the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) to provide an annual report to the Governor, the General Assembly, all public…

The "Annual Joint Report on Pre-Kindergarten through Higher Education in Tennessee" complies with the requirements established in T.C.A. § 49-1-302(a)(10). State law directs the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) to provide an annual report to the Governor, the General Assembly, all public…

The "Annual Joint Report of Pre-Kindergarten through Higher Education in Tennessee" complies with the requirements established in T.C.A. §49-1-302(a)(10). State law directs the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) to provide an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly, all public…

This article describes the University of Consortium for Catholic Education (UCCE) as an example of collaboration between Catholic colleges, universities, schools, and other stakeholders. The UCCE supports a collaborative cadre of primarily Catholic colleges and universities as they design and implement graduate-level teaching service programs for…

Tennessee Code Annotated 49-5-108 specifies that the State Board of Education "with the assistance of the department of education and the Tennessee higher education commission, shall develop a report card or assessment on the effectiveness of teacher training programs." The State Board is directed to "annually evaluate performance…

This article examines the current and potential contributions of the University Consortium for Catholic Education (UCCE) to both K-12 and higher Catholic education. In order to situate the development of alternative teacher preparation programs, a history of Catholic teacher formation is addressed followed by a brief summary of the existing…

Plans for the field-testing and implementation of the Accreditation Plus Model (APM) for evaluation of teacher preparation programs are described. Field-testing is taking place in the Center for Teacher Education Evaluation at Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville). The APM is based on the professional judgment approach to program…

This paper considers a number of vested interest political forces that influence the course of educational reform. The discussion focuses first on the world of teacher education and some reform efforts emerging in that arena. Specific criticism is directed at suggestions made in the Holmes Group Report, pointing out the political hidden agenda…

An objective of the Center for Teacher Education Evaluation (CTEE) at Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville) has been to create an evaluation model for teacher education to provide guidance for institutes of higher education. The model selected is the Accreditation Plus Model (APM). Steps covered in the model (or, steps an institution…

Summarizes the University of Tennessee's teacher education improvement plan which included creation of the Institute for Teacher Education--a transdepartmental organization overseeing all teacher education functions. Discusses selection of students in teacher education, curriculum redesign, student teaching requirements, responsibility of faculty…

To improve elementary science instruction in rural and small schools, the University of Tennessee at Martin developed a successful research-based model for inservice teacher education that included teacher developed curricular materials, multidisciplinary content, hands-on science instruction, local team leadership development, and joint training…

The relationships among scores on the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) and the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) and scores achieved on objectively scored observation instruments were studied in 100 graduates of teacher preparation programs at Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville). Of these, 62 had completed the NTE and 27 had taken…

The relationships among test scores from the American College Testing program test (ACT), the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), the American College Testing College Outcomes Measures Project test (ACT COMP), the National Teacher Examinations (NTE), final grade point average (GPA) in the major field of study, and overall GPA were studied in 615…

This paper describes the reform processes in teacher education in Tennessee over the past ten years. The decade of school improvement efforts, which culminated in 1984 with the passage of the Comprehensive Education Reform Act (CERA), is discussed. The paper presents: (1) a summary of action taken between l975-80; (2) an account of the action…