Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois
Institution Comment Comments submitted by: John Pelissero, Provost, Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago recognizes the importance and value of external program review and accreditation. That support has led most schools, colleges, and programs within the University to seek external national accreditation where available. The National Center for Teacher Quality (NCTQ) is not an accreditation agency. Rather, as an independent entity it purports to bring an objective-based external review to judging the quality of teacher preparation programs. In this case, NCTQ and their partnership with Advance Illinois fall far short of that objective. The methodology and process utilized by NCTQ results in outcomes that are unreliable and lack validity. The results therefore are not informative to the programs, candidates, or public. Specific methodological flaws in the NCTQ review include: 1. NCTQ uses narrow, restricted data leading to conclusions about programs that are spurious and not supported by data. 2. NCTQ ignores and refuses to accept objective evidence, data, and documentation submitted to them that is contrary to NCTQ’s predetermined outcomes. 3. NCTQ reaches negative findings, even in the face of submitted and documented evidence to the contrary. 4. NCTQ submits draft reports to the programs and IHE’s that are incomplete thereby denying the program under review a complete report prior to release. Advancing and improving the nation’s teaching corps is critical and crucial to preparing an educated citizenry. The immediacy of this important agenda is made real by student outcome data that consistently shows too many of our nation’s K-12 student population performing below desired levels of learning proficiency. That must change. Teacher preparation programs share that goal and understand the priorities dictated by the need. NCTQ might make a positive contribution to that goal when it recognizes that credible methodology is necessary for professionals to accept NCTQ’s findings and subsequently act on them.
www.nctq.org/edschoolreports
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