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Education Now: It was Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times
Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity to Invest in Teachers
PATHS to Tutor Act: Helping Students Overcome Pandemic Learning Loss
Challenging Times and the Best of Times for Educators
Learning Lessons from the Pandemic for Improvements in Clinical Practice
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In early spring, when the coronavirus (COVID-19) shut the doors to classrooms, there was an optimistic belief that by fall the obstacles of the pandemic would disappear and in-class instruction would return to normal. However, as states began to lift emergency orders and school districts prepared to reopen schools, it became evident that education leaders would still be grappling with the unpredictable public health crisis this fall.
With COVID-19 spreading more rapidly in some regions of the United States, each state must assess whether they can safely open schools. Recently, some school districts that deemed it safe to reopen have reverted to remote learning when students and/or teachers have tested positive for the coronavirus. Certainly, navigating the current crisis is complicated, and it is having a profound effect on educator preparation programs (EPPs).
Due to PK-12 school closures in the spring, many teacher candidates were unable to complete their clinical and field experiences in a classroom setting—typically a prerequisite for licensure. Acknowledging that a lack of new teachers entering the field would adversely impact the current teacher shortage crisis, EPPs responded with alternative learning opportunities to ensure that teacher candidates are prepared and competent to enter their own classrooms. As a result, many states have implemented emergency policy changes to licensure, thus enabling recent graduates to teach this fall.
Managing the pandemic through innovative improvement
To guide state leaders as they continue to develop solutions for the short- and long-term effects of the pandemic, AACTE investigated and analyzed COVID-related state guidance to EPPs. Through this research—and with an eye toward maintaining high expectations for quality teaching—AACTE released a set of recommendations included in the recent report, Teaching in the Time of COVID-19: State Recommendations for Educator Preparation Programs and New Teachers. The three goals of the report include: (1) understanding what states are doing to help prepare teachers for the classroom during this crisis; (2) identifying any extant trends in state guidance and (3); developing recommendations for state leaders to enhance the support of new teachers impacted by program and policy disturbances stemming from the coronavirus crisis. Trends that emerged from the analysis led to the development of 10 recommendations:
As an additional resource, AACTE developed the interactive map, State Actions to Support EPPs and Teacher Candidates During COVID-19, which highlights changes to state policies and practices in four categories: (1) initial licensure and certification, (2) clinical experiences, (3) hiring and induction, and (4) state standards and other program requirements. The information and data sources on this map are updated regularly, when new guidance and directives are issued.
Moving forward
Teaching in the time of COVID-19 has many challenges, prompting states and EPPs to respond to urgent needs in the field. As a community of teacher educators, we have faced the obstacles head-on. However, despite the pandemic, we must continue to explore and implement new and innovative opportunities for learning—for our PK-12 students and those current and future educators who play a vital role in the lives of their students. With the support of states, school districts, educators, and students, we have the ability to reimagine education during this time and build a stronger and more equitable system for all learners. Remember, we are all in this together, and together we can make a difference even during this challenging time.
Lynn M. Gangone, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education