Response to Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability (REPA)
Indiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
August 17, 2009
Members of the Indiana Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (IACTE) are putting forward their own recommendations in light of the proposed changes in the Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability (REPA) proposed by Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Tony Bennett. We as teacher educators praise efforts to strengthen the support and evaluation of beginning teachers through the recommended three-year residency. Proposals to increase the principals' involvement in teachers' professional development structured to improve students' learning are also a positive move. The proposed rules simplify and streamline the license renewal process.
Still, we are concerned that many of the proposed changes will reduce teacher and school administrator quality by weakening standards that preparation programs now are required to meet. "Too many of the proposed changes may make Indiana's schools and students less prepared for future challenges," said Kathy Moran, President-Elect of IACTE.
The proposals significantly weaken teacher preparation by reducing teacher licensure requirements to simply passing tests and allowing for no experience in classrooms or with students before the beginning teachers start their jobs. IACTE members support the requirement that candidates must have basic skills and sound content preparation. In fact, secondary education candidates already must complete majors that require equal or more credit hours than arts and sciences majors and align with nationally recognized Indiana Standards. "Administrators and teachers must deal with an increasingly diverse student population that will need complex skills for the 21st century," Moran said "Limiting the number of hours of preparation of teaching skills and reducing field experience and student teaching requirements will leave new teachers and building leaders inadequately prepared." Currently, teacher preparation programs in Indiana must meet rigorous national accreditation standards, but the proposed alternative routes to teacher and administrator licensure are not subject to the same rigorous performance-based expectations.
The proposed teacher licensing changes include a recommendation for alternative ways in which individuals may pursue a teaching license. IACTE recognizes the need for such alternative routes, as evidenced by existing pathways to teaching. There is little evidence of an urgent need to supplement the new teacher workforce which schools of education in Indiana already provide. In fact, the 2010 American Association for Employment in Education regional assessment of teacher supply and demand finds that in the Great Lakes region (which includes Indiana) there are no teaching categories indicated as a "considerable shortage" area. Among the report's 47 categories of fields and disciplines, only 8 fields show "some shortage." "We encourage support of the existing programs," said Marilyn Watkins, Executive Committee member. "That includes the Transition to Teaching program, and the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship program that helps provide teachers in high need content areas."
Our colleges and universities welcome the opportunity to work in collaboration with the Department of Education (DOE) to ensure the state meets eligibility requirements for the "Race to the Top" funds offered by the federal government. A framework for strengthening administrative leadership already exists; we would like to fortify building and district leadership by implementing proposals in the Department of Education's sponsored study from 2007, "Looking in the Mirror" (http://www.doe.in.gov/ipla/docs/Looking_in_the_Mirror.pdf). These and other matters would be best suited for consideration by a professional task force. "We suggest such a body review the proposed rules and make recommendations under a set deadline," said Jill Shedd, executive secretary of IACTE. "That would allow us to make the best decisions for the future education of Indiana's children."
Members of the IACTE work on a daily basis to ensure that our preparation of teachers and administrators is dynamic-constantly changing to meet the needs of an ever-changing society and always seeking the best outcomes for students. The proposals put forward in the REPA deserve very careful consideration. Our own ideas are presented in the belief that hasty and unsupported changes for the sake of looking like change will weaken Indiana's education system and worsen outcomes for our students.
Contacts: Kathy Moran, President-Elect (317-788-3367)
Jill D. Shedd, Executive Secretary (812-343-7783)
Marilyn Watkins, Board Member (765-976-8211)