State considers charging universities for teacher prep accreditation
By Tom Chorneau
Monday, December 03, 2012
Under pressure to streamline operations and recover service costs, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing is expected this week to consider a proposal for charging universities and other institutions to perform accreditation review of preparation programs.
The agency, which serves as the state’s standards board for educator training and professional conduct, has an extensive program for evaluation of the state’s 260 teacher training programs – a system that incorporates site visits, course review and analysis of student performance data, all of which is financially supported by other commission activities.
A staff report offers the board two avenues for recapturing some of those expenses – one by imposing fees for the review of newly-established credential programs and the other by charging for extra accreditation efforts required when institutions fail to meet one or more standards.
Anne Padilla, who helps oversee government relations at the CTC, said the commission does not have authority to
Youth employment, middle school math – both highlight need to stay on track
By Tom Chorneau
Monday, December 03, 2012
Two reports out today highlight – from very different perspectives – the lasting impacts missteps in education can have on the lives of young students as well as on society as a whole.
The first study, released by the Anne E. Casey Foundation and Kids Count, points out that youth employment is at its lowest level since World War II – with about 6.5 million Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 both out of school and out of work.
“There are fewer jobs today and employers are demanding higher skills in a labor market transformed by globalization and technology,” the Casey study reports. “Also, fewer than half of our high school students graduate on time and are ready for college. Young people with limited education and job-readiness skills find fewer employment opportunities.”
These current conditions predict dire consequences: High school dropouts have estimated lifetime earnings of