The Louisiana College Teacher Education Department recently was subject to NCATE evaluation.
PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Teacher Education Department recently was subject to NCATE evaluation.
NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, offers colleges a chance to receive a nationally-recognized stamp of approval. In considering LouisianaCollege for NCATE accreditation, a team of 10 representatives visited the LC campus Feb. 24-28 and assessed the Education Department in a number of ways: The team conducted interviews with faculty and students, as well as observed classes and student teachers in their school settings.
One of NCATE’s chief interests was the department’s conceptual framework, a 107-page document that outlines the department’s philosophy concerning the future educators it produces, LC administrators said.
The conceptual framework of the department focuses on three aspects: Christian Service, Mastery of Subject Matter, and the Attributes of a Practitioner Teacher. The framework states that “the goal of the Teacher Education Department is to train teacher candidates to become Dynamic Educators through weaving these three strands together.”
The faculty notes elsewhere in the framework, “Our theme revolving around these three concepts is taken from Ecclesiastes 4:12 which states “…a cord of three strands is not easily broken.”
NCATE evaluation also held the Education Department accountable to a collection of six national standards: candidate knowledge, skills, and dispositions; assessment system and unit evaluation; field experiences and clinical practice; diversity; faculty qualifications, performance, and development; and unit governance and resources. A different member of the department faculty served as chairperson over each standard.
According to an NCATE fact-sheet, made available by the Education Department, LouisianaCollege seeks NCATE accreditation, not only because it is required by the Louisiana Board of Regents, but also because the college “fully supports NCATE standards and its fundamental belief that all students can and should learn.”
The results of the evaluation visit will be reviewed by the NCATE Executive Board in WashingtonD.C. The final decision concerning accreditation is to be announced in October.
– Jessie Redd