Does teacher education need to change? Many, including the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education, think so. A blue ribbon panel convened by the organization called today for teacher education to be “'turned upside down' by revamping programs to place clinical practice at the center of teacher preparation."

Eight states — California, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee — have already committed to reform following the panel's recommendations, which include:

· There must be an intense focus on developing teaching practice and P-12 student
learning.

- Higher education and school districts must share accountability and responsibility.

· Teacher-training programs must attract more academically prepared and more
diverse cohorts of students.

· The reward structure in academe and P-12 schools’ staffing models must shift to
value learning to teach, and to support placing clinical practice at the center of teacher
preparation.

- States and accreditation agencies must strengthen their scrutiny.

· States should help ensure that future teachers are prepared to fill the staffing needs
of P-12 schools.

· Federal agencies should support a clearly defined research agenda to document and
provide evidence of the impact of practices in clinical preparation on teacher
effectiveness.

To see the full report go here.