NCATE Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does NCATE accreditation mean for Centenary’s candidates?
NCATE is the professional accrediting body for the teaching field. Graduates of NCATE-accredited institutions will be better prepared for new, more demanding licensing expectations. NCATE has aligned its standards with model state licensing standards that many states use. NCATE accreditation is the profession’s “seal of approval.” It means that the college or department of education has met national professional standards for the preparation of teachers. Prospective teachers have assurance that programs at the college are up-to-date, relevant, research-based, and will prepare them well for performance-based licensing examinations.
2. What is the Conceptual Framework (CF)?
The Conceptual Framework (an overview is located on the back of this sheet) establishes the shared vision for a unit’s efforts in preparing educators to work effectively in P-12 schools. It provides direction for programs, courses, teaching, candidate performance, scholarship, service, and unit accountability. The purpose of the CF is to inform the process by which the unit develops its goals, to articulate the goals of the unit, and to ensure that the goals encourage professionally sound commitments and dispositions.
3. What is the Institutional Report (IR)?
The professional education unit is required to write and submit an Institutional Report (IR) that describes the unit’s conceptual framework and evidence that demonstrates that NCATE’s 6 standards are met. This document is not to exceed 100 pages, which is possible because extensive reference/evidence files are also provided in support of the IR.
4. What are NCATE’s 6 standards?
Standard 1: Candidate Knowledge, Skills, & Dispositions
Standard 2: Assessment System & Unit Evaluation
Standard 3: Field Experiences & Clinical Practice
Standard 4: Diversity
Standard 5: Faculty Qualifications, Performance, & Development
Standard 6: Unit Governance & Resources
5. Who is the Professional Teacher Education Unit?
The Unit is comprised of faculty members (full-time Dept. of Education members; full-time Centenary College/part-time Dept of Education members (such as Math, Health/PE, Music, and so on); and Adjunct members) who instruct candidates in courses specifically appropriate for education candidates.
6. What is the Unit Assessment System?
The unit has identified multiple assessment tools and strategies (e.g., portfolios, research papers, self-assessments and so on) to be used at various points (or Portals) during education programs. These assessments form a comprehensive assessment system which collects, compiles, and analyzes data to improve candidate performance and unit operations.
7. When is the Board of Examiners’ (BOE) accreditation visit?
Saturday, November 11, 2006 – Wednesday, November 15, 2006
8. What will happen during the BOE accreditation visit?
A national and state team of examiners (a total of 10 educational professionals) will visit campus assessing the educational programs offered at Centenary. In addition to the IR, team members will have access to extensive documents (handbooks, catalogs, brochures, and other published documents) that describe the unit and its programs. BOE members will also examine the institution and/or unit website prior to the visit. The team members will read the IR, analyze the evidence, interview the Shreveport/Bossier City community and the Centenary College community, and write an evaluation based upon the six NCATE Standards.
9. Who will be involved with the BOE accreditation visit?
Potentially everyone: community members; Centenary administration, faculty, staff, and candidates; and Professional Development Schools’ (PDS) administration, faculty, staff, and students all are potential interview subjects. Though a schedule will be in place, it is the prerogative of the BOE members to stop and talk with anyone to question about the Centenary College’s educational programs.
10. If interviewed, what do I say?
It would be appropriate and beneficial to use the terminology from the Conceptual Framework (specifically citing “Community,” “Pedagogy,” etc.). Because the CF is aligned with the mission of Centenary, we incorporate these ideas into our teaching and learning already; using this specific language helps the BOE understand this.
11. When will we know the results of the visit?
At the end of the visit, the head of the BOE team will conduct an exit interview with the President, the Dept. of Education Chairperson, and the NCATE Coordinator. During this exit interview, the unofficial recommendation of the BOE team will be disclosed. The final determination (based upon the BOE evaluation) will be made by the NCATE Unit Advisory Board in April 2007. This determination will then be recommended to the Louisiana State Dept. of Ed. for acceptance.
