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Contact:
Ann Frechette
973-655-4333
frechettea@mail.montclair.edu

Montclair, N.J. -- Montclair State University's standard of excellence in the preparation of educators has once again earned the accreditation of The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) -- the country's leading accrediting agency for education professionals .

Montclair State is one of 623 colleges to earn accreditation in the U.S. from NCATE and was among the first group of institutions accredited by NCATE in 1954 when the Council was first established. NCATE is a coalition of 35 specialty professional organizations of teachers, teacher educators, content specialists, and local and state policy makers and is formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the professional accrediting body for colleges and universities that prepare teachers and other professional personnel for work in elementary and secondary schools.

"The latest accreditation visit was a very important marker in our long history of NCATE accreditation because it was the first time that NCATE required a fully developed assessment system and at least two years of data from that system," said Dr. Ada Beth Cutler, dean of the College of Education and Human Services (CEHS).

In November 2005, a team of eight trained members of NCATE's Board of Examiners attested to Montclair State's accreditation with a five-day on site visit to review data; visit university classrooms and partner schools to observe students carry out field experiences and practica; and interview administrators, faculty and students.

The new NCATE accreditation process establishes rigorous standards for teacher education programs and focuses on two major areas: candidate performance and unit capacity. Receiving NCATE accreditation means that MSU has met the strict code of standards set by a national system of accountability for programs for educators.

Dr. Ana Maria Villegas of Curriculum and Teaching said, "Knowing that MSU's programs for educators have met NCATE accreditation communicates to potential, current, and past students that MSU's programs are rigorous and of very high quality. It also ensures current and future employers that MSU graduates are well prepared to carry out the professional responsibilities entrusted to them."

"People considering applying to one of MSU's programs in education have the assurance that our programs have met national standards and have received the seal of approval of the profession," said CEHS Associate Dean Dr. Tamara Lucas.

Lucas said the accreditation was the result of approximately five years of preparation--including developing MSU standards for the preparation of teachers and other school professionals; revising the curriculum to reflect and incorporate the standards; developing a systematic and comprehensive means to collect data about students' performance as they make their way through the program; and using the data for accountability and program improvement.

NCATE standards for performance include candidate knowledge, skills, and dispositions; assessment and evaluation; field experiences and clinical practice; diversity; faculty qualifications, performance and development; resources and governance.

For more information, contact Ann Frechette at (973) 655-4225 or send an email to frechettea@mail.montclair.edu.

Montclair State is New Jersey's second largest and fastest growing university. It offers the advantages of a large university--a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum with a global focus, a broad variety of superior graduate programs through the doctoral level, and a diverse faculty and student body--combined with a small college's attention to students.

May 16, 2006