KANSAS CITY, MO. – The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Education (SOE) is joining other universities nationally that are not participating in the recently announced study being conducted by the National Council for Teacher Quality (NCTQ) and the U.S. News and World Report. The universities opting out have expressed serious concerns about NCTQ’s methods in conducting the review.
The launch of the national study of schools of education was announced in a news release on Jan. 18 and indicated that more than 1,000 schools of education across the U.S. would be asked to participate in the project. Undergraduate and graduate programs will be evaluated.
“The study by the NCTQ and U.S. News and World Report does not reflect the application of standards-based research, sound and proven research methodology or rigor,” according to a statement issued by UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton, Provost Gail Hackett and SOE Dean Wanda J. Blanchett.
The statement also refers to UMKC’s accreditation and accountability:
“The School of Education received official full continuing accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and its next site visit is scheduled for early 2012. NCATE is the professional accrediting body for colleges and universities, recognized by the U. S. Department of Education. NCTQ is not a recognized accrediting body, and we are not accountable to their self-defined standards.”
UMKC and the SOE’s educator preparation programs are held to the highest nationally-recognized standards, providing all students an equitable, high-quality education. The teacher certification programs also adhere to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s legislative rules and standards.
UMKC’s position on this study is not unique as numerous universities have expressed concerns about the review, as well as the coercion strategies used in the past and planned for in the upcoming NCTQ study. Dr. Sharon Robinson, President and Executive Director for the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE), stated the following in referring to participation in this project by schools and colleges of education:
“This project does not recommend itself as one worthy of your involvement. The issues concerning methodology are significant. Another factor that gives us pause is the experience of our members in past NCTQ projects. After members had devoted considerable time to crafting responses and gathering additional material for NCTQ’s evaluation of their programs, NCTQ often rejected the new information as irrelevant. Thus, NCTQ is advancing an analysis of program quality that is not based on all the evidence.”
The University of Missouri-Kansas City does and will always support aspiring teachers and the pursuit of academic excellence. UMKC is open to sound, credible standards and wants to be challenged by such standards that will help the University better prepare its graduates for tomorrow’s diverse classrooms, aid school districts in knowing where they should target hiring efforts and assist education leaders and policymakers in determining best practices.
Read the full statement issued by UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton, Provost Gail Hackett and SOE Dean Wanda Blanchett here.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.