An Imperative: A National Policy for Teacher Education.

Overview & Synopsis

American education is being challenged to play a key role in the improvement of a society threatened simultaneously by domestic crises and by international conflict. A national effort is needed in teacher education to prepare paraprofessionals, teachers, administrators, educational specialists, educational researchers, college teachers of education, and others. Fragmentation is an obstacle, with over 1,000 higher education institutions, 50 state education agencies, hundreds of public and private local school districts, regional and national accrediting agencies, and professional organizations. A national policy for teacher education is needed and should focus on control, finance, social responsibility, partnership roles, program, accreditation, certification, new career patterns, professional competencies, evaluation, technology, accountability, multicultural needs, the urban crisis, international understanding, experimental programs, long-range planning, and educational conference on teacher education; that a broadly representative national policy commission for teacher education be established to develop, scrutinize, and revise policy; and that staff support be provided through a national center for teacher education as a unit of the proposed National Institute of Education. (MBM)