Ed School Evolution

I wanted to bring your attention to two interesting real-world responses to my screed last week about the seeming proliferation of alt cert programs for teachers over the past decade and the comparative lack of change in mainstream ed school teacher prep programs.

Almost immediately, AACTE communications czar Jade Floyd wrote in to point out that most alt cert programs are actually operated in conjunction with traditional ed schools and that there are a slew (or at least a handful) of new professional development schools (Bank Street College of Education’s program in NY, U of Alabama, Georgia State U and U of S. Carolina).

Just today, Elliott Lessen, president of the National Association for Professional Development Schools, wrote in to say that many teacher prep programs have moved towards a more clinical model, though not all of them qualify as full-blown PDS programs.