AACTE President and CEO Sharon P. Robinson on New Center for American Progress Accountability for Teacher Education Report

(July 29, 2010, Washington, D.C.) – The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education welcomes the Center for American Progress’ (CAP) important report, “Measuring What Matters: A Stronger Accountability Model for Teacher Education.” We also applaud CAP for engaging Ed Crowe to write it and for releasing it at this propitious time.

The report is particularly timely, given the growing recognition of the importance of effective teachers and the inadequacy of information on which to evaluate, improve and hold accountable the programs that prepare them. This concern was profoundly voiced when just three months ago, the prestigious National Research Council (NRC) found “little definitive evidence that particular approaches to teacher preparation yield teachers whose students are more successful than others.” It called for more work “to develop a clearer picture both of how teachers are prepared and which preparation aspects have the greatest effects.” For the members of AACTE, this research agenda is essential.