National–Louis University National College of Education Chicago, Illinois Institution Comment Comments submitted by: Allison R. Hilsabeck, Dean, National College of Education
National–Louis University has a 125 year history of exemplary teacher preparation and commitment to improving education for all learners. We assess our candidates’ knowledge and skills at multiple points, using multiple, research–based standards, to ensure that they will be highly effective educators, meeting the needs of 21st century learners. We value and seek out external evaluation and feedback, based upon solid research, to continuously improve the excellence of our programs. For example, NLU was a founding member of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and has 22 programs that have achieved national recognition from their respective professional associations. Though the NCTQ “study” did not connect research–based standards with candidate outcomes, we share their goal of ensuring that every child is taught by highly effective teachers, regardless of a child’s race, socioeconomic status, or other circumstances. In the end, the best form of evidence for the quality of a teacher preparation program is the actual ability of its graduates to impact student learning. NLU is proud that 39 of our graduates have been recognized with the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Teaching. NLU has awarded degrees to more Golden Apple Fellows than any other university in the state. An additional example of the quality of our elementary and secondary education programs and faculty may be seen in the outcomes achieved by our graduates in Academy for Urban School Leadership schools. For nearly a decade, NLU/AUSL candidates have been trained and have taught in high– need, previously failing schools. Analyses of student achievement data in these schools, linked to graduates of the NLU/AUSL teacher preparation partnership, provides firm evidence of the effectiveness of these teachers, and by extension, the effectiveness of our elementary and secondary preparation curricula and faculty. Finally, a 2009 survey conducted by Eduventures, Inc. revealed that the highest proportion of Chicago Public School Principals selected National Louis University as an exemplary teacher education program in the area. We welcome additional and valid outcome data that will augment our existing assessment and evaluation systems. Unfortunately, outside of partnerships like AUSL/NLU, it is largely impossible far schools of education to obtain consistent, reliable, and comparable student achievement data linked to their graduates. We appreciate that systems are now being developed at the state and national level to begin to address this issue and we welcome the opportunity to contribute expertise and leadership to the design and implementation of these systems. Fortunately, challenges of education across the state have an excellent collaborative relationship around our shared desire to ensure that ALL students have access to outstanding teachers.We have the demonstrated capacity, expertise, and desire to work effectively with ISBE, IBHE, our accrediting bodies, advocacy organizations such as NCTQ and Advance Illinois, and our colleagues in the PK–12 school system to ensure the quality of teachers and the quality of the schools in which they work.
www.nctq.org/edschoolreports
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