Advanced Programs Committee

Minutes of meeting on 10/26/99

In attendance:  Carolyn Finch, Assoc. Dean; Chris Bocklage, FA; Earl Meyer, BTE; Ken Schatz, SPED; Kaia Skaggs, TED; Sue Stickel, L&C; Jaclyn Tracy, L&C; Judy Williston, TED

Dr. Finch handed out the proposed NCATE 2000 Unit Standards.

We looked at the conceptual framework description on p. 2.  There was too much variability in the ’97 conceptual frameworks – perhaps this could be used as a unifying structure.  It has to include all 5 parts, with performance outcomes for candidates and how they will be assessed as an important focus for the next review.  There is a rubric on p. 3; perhaps that could help.

Different programs are in different stages in progress toward completion of their conceptual frameworks.  Perhaps it would be possible to consolidate elements, generate generic components for each so that there would be more consistency, more structure, and less duplicated work.  Prototypes might help, the problem has been in the past that they don’t tend to fit.  An appropriate starting point was discussed.  We should look at what we’ve already got in terms of the new standards.  A complicating factor is that most programs have multiple professional accreditation/certification agencies, each with different formats and requirements.

We need some sort of format with guidelines and expectations – the lack of which has been problematic in the past.  There are also questions of definition – what is “the unit”?  It has been considered to be the College of Ed., but not all programs within the college are NCATE programs, and some outside of the college are.  How do non K-12 programs fit and non-college of ed programs, some of which have no required courses within the college of ed?  Is there the expectation that there will be a common core of College of Ed courses?  This has been discussed previously and is not likely to happen.

There are some basic questions to which we need answers in order to proceed:

1)                  What is the unit?

2)                  What exactly are we supposed to produce?

3)                  How do we show the connection between the various pieces and organizations?  Can we create a framework that helps show the correlations between the professional organizations, educational accrediting bodies, etc.?  Illustrate the relationship between NCATE, professional and state standards, NCA, and professional organizations?  (We need to find out what all of the organizations are.)

4)                  What process should we be following to build the conceptual framework?

Respectfully submitted,

Kaia Skaggs, Secretary