National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is the teaching profession's organization to help establish high quality teacher, specialist, and administrator preparation. Through the process of professional accreditation of schools, colleges and departments of education, NCATE works to make a difference in the quality of teaching, teachers, school specialists and administrators. NCATE believes every student deserves a caring, competent, and highly qualified teacher (From NCATE website)

In NCATE's performance-based accreditation system, institutions must provide evidence of competent teacher candidate performance. Teacher candidates must know the subject matter they plan to teach and how to teach effectively so that all students learn. NCATE makes a difference in teacher preparation. Prepared teachers make a difference in P–12 student learning. Study after study indicates that student achievement increases when teachers are fully prepared and fully licensed.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize NCATE as an accrediting body for schools, colleges, and departments of education.

Keene State College is one of the two institutions in New Hampshire that was accredited by NCATE. Keene State College has been accredited by NCATE since 1954, and in May 2010, Keene State College received again full accreditation approval from NCATE at its initial teacher preparation and advanced preparation levels. The next NCATE accreditation visit is scheduled for Spring 2014. Please go to our NCATE 2014 website for more information.

For more information about NCATE accreditation at Keene State College, please go to our Electronic Exhibit Room.