Additional recruitment programs will be developed as well to attract teacher candidates for underserved subject areas and underrepresented segments of the population. Certification Administration One of the major responsibilities of the Department is to administer the system for certifying qualified educators. Over the next few years this system will continue to be substantially simplified, automated, and expedited. Since for many educators this process is their first introduction to the Department, it is especially important that they receive prompt, helpful service in the evaluation of their application. The success of Education Reform depends on substantial local, state, and federal resources devoted to high quality professional development linked to improving student learning.
Public education is in the process of fundamental change.
Teachers can not depend solely on textbooks and lectures to fulfill their roles as instructional leaders. They are expected to design and use cooperative, project-based, interdisciplinary curriculum units that integrate technology, the community, the work place, the state's Curriculum Frameworks, and an authentic system of assessment. Taken together, each component of this new vision for the classroom poses an enormous challenge to seasoned and novice teachers alike. In this context, professional development will mean more than just taking classes at a local teacher training institution. Teachers need a supportive professional environment at the school site which nurtures new ideas, encourages innovation, and places a high priority on peer support.