Seidel School Teacher Education and Personnel  Programs  Receive  Accreditation from National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

SALISBURY, MD---Studies show that teacher quality is the most important factor in K-12 student achievement. But how do we know that our children's teachers enter the classrooms ready to promote learning? National program accreditation is one way to ensure the public that schools of education are graduating well- qualified teachers  ready for today's classrooms.

Salisbury State University's Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies recently received accreditation of teacher education and school personnel programs under the performance- oriented standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization  responsible for professional accreditation of teacher education programs.

Some of the nation's 1,200 colleges and universities that train teachers are accredited by NCATE. Those institutions produce two-thirds of the nation's new teacher graduates.

To achieve NCATE accreditation, schools of education must meet rigorous standards set by the education profession and members of the public. NCATE serves to evaluate accredited schools of education to ensure that subject content, and how to teach it, is a priority; to emphasize school district collaboration; to ensure that candidates can use technology in instruction; and to prepare teacher candidates to teach students from diverse backgrounds.

Accreditation standards emphasize teacher performance. They focus on what teacher candidates know and are able to do, and expect candidates to demonstrate specific skills. Multiple types of performance assessment are expected throughout the program of study, and candidate competence is assessed prior to the completion of the program.

Meeting NCATE accreditation standards also helps institutions prepare new teachers for new, more rigorous licensing standards in many states.

Dr. Beth Barnett, dean of the Seidel School, said, "Salisbury State University has a long history of preparing highly qualified teachers and principals for Maryland's schools. Obtaining NCATE accreditation verifies the outstanding quality of our teacher education programs and sets standards for our continued education of excellent teachers."

NCATE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the professional accrediting body for schools, departments and colleges of education.

For more information about SSU's teacher education program, visit the Web site at http://www.salisbury.edu/Schools/Seidel.html. For more information on NCATE visit its Web site at http://www.ncate.org.