Pace, like other New York colleges and universities, will have to address the teacher preparation portion of the equation. The New York State Board of Regents made far-reaching changes this summer by unanimously approving a plan that will radically change the way teachers are prepared and certified in New York. Some of the concerns are about improving the professional development of teachers and certification standards, schools' accountability for the quality of teaching and evaluation of teachers, and a mentored first year of teaching by trained, more experienced teachers. The inability of New York to attract and keep enough of the best teachers where they are most needed. This is true nationwide as well.
Teachers leave college unprepared to ensure that students reach high standards.
Teachers fail to keep up the knowledge and skills needed to maintain high teaching standards throughout their careers. Dean Janet McDonald feels that the School of Education is prepared to meet these new standards as it already has a solid, school-based philosophy for its undergraduate and graduate programs. We will have to add new courses and some new programs to our curriculum, but, frankly, we're already doing a very good job in preparing future teachers. Currently, in New York and in many other states, once a teacher receives permanent certification that teacher is never again required to take course work. The Regents also called for increasing school districts' accountability for the quality of teaching and more rigorous evaluations of teachers.