Teacher education programs remain strong at BU
School districts from across Pennsylvania and as far away as Florida and Hawaii hired new teachers from the ranks of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania graduates in 2007.
According to the most recent data available in the Post-Graduation Activities Report, prepared by BU's Career Development Center, 93 percent of BU's 69 special/elementary education graduates attained teaching positions in 2007, followed by nearly 85 percent of the 67 early childhood/elementary education graduates and 75 percent of the 128 elementary education graduates.
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) announced today the continued accreditation of 22 initial preparation programs at BU. They are: business education; citizenship education; curriculum and instruction (a graduate-level program with certification); communication, grades 7-12; early childhood education; elementary education; elementary education/early childhood; elementary education, kindergarten through grade 6 (a graduate-level program with certification); early education (a graduate-level program with certification); English, grades 7-12; foreign language, kindergarten through grade 12; mathematics, grades 7-12; music education, grades 7-12; biology, grades 7-12; chemistry, grades 7-12; earth and space science, grades 7-12; general science, grades 7-12; physics, grades 7-12; special education, non-graded to grade 12; special education/elementary education; speech pathology (a graduate-level program); and teacher intern. A total of 1,636 students are enrolled in these programs.
"Bloomsburg University's strong tradition of educating successful teachers continues," said Dianne Mark, dean of the College of Professional Studies.
NCATE determined that the advanced certificate programs at the post-baccalaureate levels - programs leading to master's degrees and advanced certificates - did not meet the NCATE standard for diversity, based on a lack of relevant data. According to Mark, BU's accreditation for its advanced preparation programs will end May 1, 2009. There are 175 students enrolled in these programs.
"Bloomsburg University education majors will continue to earn highly regarded degrees. And they will, as always, be able to be certified in their respective areas," Mark said. "Today's announcement by NCATE does not detract from the value of an education degree from BU."
Mark said assessment tools are currently being put in place for both initial and advanced programs, under the direction of James Brown, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The university is eligible to apply for reaccreditation in the year 2011, but university officials plan to request an early accreditation visit from NCATE.
"We are aware of the items we need to address," Mark said.
Current BU education majors will receive additional information by mail, along with an invitation to an open forum to discuss their questions and concerns.
"Initial teacher preparation programs" are defined as programs at the baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate levels that prepare candidates for the first license to teach. "Advanced programs" are programs at post-baccalaureate levels for the continuing education of teachers who have previously completed initial preparation or the preparation of other school professionals.