Keene State College's School of Professional and Graduate Studies teacher preparation program has received continued accreditation under the performance-oriented standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

A Long History of Preparing Teachers
Keene State has a long history of preparing teachers at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate level. In addition to NCATE, the KSC Teacher Education programs have received accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the New Hampshire State Board of Education. Keene State received special congratulations from the NCATE board because no "areas for improvement" were noted in the renewal process.

"The NCATE review is one of the most rigorous in higher education, and Keene State College has held NCATE accreditation for 53 years," said KSC President Helen Giles-Gee. "Since all teacher education candidates have two majors - one in education and a second major in the arts, humanities, social sciences, or sciences field - the process looks broadly at the entire institution and the ways that it contributes to the preparation of teachers. This was the College's first review against new standards that place a strong emphasis on assessment, and I am especially pleased to have received such positive feedback."

NCATE-Accredited Schools Must Meet Rigorous Standards NCATE-accredited schools meet rigorous standardsset by the profession and members of the public - currently 623 institutions (producing two-thirds of the nation's new teacher graduates each year) have NCATE accreditation. The institution must have the resources, including information technology resources, necessary to prepare candidates to meet new standards, faculty must model effective teaching practices, and must offer partnerships with P-12 schools that enable candidates to develop the skills necessary to help students learn.

"Our teacher candidate preparation program connects our campus in many ways, provides historic continuity for our community, and contributes strongly to our mission as a public liberal arts college," said Dr. Melinda Treadwell, dean of Professional and Graduate Studies. "Our faculty are recognized scholars and exceptional educators who share a commitment to our students and their learning and development. We are thrilled to learn of our continuing full recognition. NCATE's recognition affirms that our teacher candidates possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be effective in their field of practice upon graduation and that our programs inform their curriculum and pedagogy with evidence of student learning outcomes demonstration."

The U. S. Department of Education recognizes NCATE as a specialized accrediting body for schools, colleges, and departments of education. NCATE is composed of more than 30 professional and policymaker organizations representing millions of Americans committed to quality teaching. It was founded in 1954 by the teaching profession and the states. NCATE continues its mission today: the profession and the states working together for excellence in teacher preparation and development. More information about NCATE is available at www.ncate.org.

More Information

• KSC Teacher Education Program
• KSC School of Professional and Graduate Studies
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

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