The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education (COE) recently received continuing accreditation for seven years under the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards. NCATE’s performance-based accreditation system for teacher preparation ensures that teacher candidates are prepared to make a difference in P–12 student learning.
The COE’s initial teacher education and advanced preparation programs met the rigorous standards set by the professional education community. A summary of the standards includes candidate knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions; assessment system and unit evaluation; field experiences and clinical practice; diversity; faculty qualifications, performance, and development; and unit governance and resources. The next accreditation visit is scheduled for Spring 2021.
Dean Donald B. Young said, “This accreditation is a testimonial to the high quality faculty and programs of the College of Education. NCATE’s full accreditation means that our initial and advanced programs meet all standards for teacher education, placing us in an elite group of such programs nationwide.”
Annually, the COE produces more than 65% of the state’s teaching force. With nearly 2,000 students enrolled each year, the college awards an average of 700 degrees. The college also continues to earn top rankings for graduate schools in education and external funding recipients for research by U.S. News & World Report, and, most recently, for quality online programs by Affordable Colleges Online.
Providers accredited under NCATE standards, as well as those accredited under the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) Quality Principles, are now served by the single specialized accreditation system for educator preparation in the United States, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). More than 900 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP accreditation system.