AACTE Day on the Hill

Day on the Hill emphasizes collaboration and clinical experience

Daniel Clay, dean of the MU College of Education, traveled to Washington, D.C. along with 200 teacher educators from across the country to emphasize the importance of high-quality educator preparation programs as a critical part of improving K-12 schools.  The annual "Day on the Hill," sponsored by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), was held June 17. 

Linda Bennett, associate dean of the MU College of Education, and John Covington, superintendent of the Kansas City, Missouri School District joined Clay for legislative visits including the offices of Senators Christopher Bond and Claire McCaskill, as well as representatives from Missouri's 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 9th Congressional districts. 

"Colleges of education are a necessary part of addressing education concerns in our country, and it is important for our federal legislators to understand  the impact that the MU College of Education has on improving education in the state and nationally," said Clay.

AACTE is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to professional development for teachers and school leaders.  The 800-member institutions represent both public and private universities.

"The only way to improve education comprehensively in Missouri and nationally is to work collaboratively with our academic partners as well as state and federal legislators.  These meetings provided exactly that opportunity," he said. 

Concerns conveyed to legislators were largely related to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and included funding for both urban and rural education, flexible use of federal funds by schools, support for highly-effective verses highly-qualified educators, and the need for national core standards.

In addition, the group sought external funding for collaborative education initiatives.  "A mutual goal for MU College of Education and the Kansas City School District is to obtain external funding to support the development of highly effective educators throughout the state," Bennett said.  "This includes a significant clinical component for educator preparation to bridge theory and practice."

During the Day on the Hill, AACTE released Reforming Teacher Preparation: The Critical Clinical Component, a compilation of clinical practice efforts underway at nearly 70 schools, colleges, and departments of education in collaboration with local school districts.  According to the AACTE, "It provides examples of how teacher preparation programs are reorienting themselves around stronger pedagogy, classroom management skills, and extensive practice in teaching diverse learners."