Meeting Minutes: Committee on Educator Preparation
Academic Advisory Committee on Educator Preparation (EPAAC)
Meeting Minutes, October 31, 2000
Macon, Ga
Les Crawford, School of Education, Georgia College & State University convened the meeting and introduced the other two co-chairs of EPAAC for the year: Larry Peterson, College of Science and Mathematics, Kennesaw State University, and John B. Black, Dalton State College
Members Present: Cynthia Alby, Paul Beare, John Black, Ronnie L. Booth, Jeffrey Buller, Wilburn Campbell, Arthur Cleveland, Ron Colarusso, Arnie Cooper, Mary Kay Corbitt, Leslie W. Crawford, Rob Freeman, Tim Goodman, Thomas Harrison, Hugh Hudson, Oliver Hurley, Bari-Haskins-Jackson, Grace James, Jan Kettlewell, John H. Kohler, Joan M. Lord, Curtis Martin, Grace Martin, Gary McGaha, Bob Michael, Price M. Michael, Derek Mpinga, Kirk Myers, Bernie Patterson, Laurence Peterson, Edward Pettit, Jennie Rakestraw, Thomas M. Reed, Ann D. Smith, Margaret Smith, F. D. Toth, H. D. Tuech, Adrienne M. Turner, Paul Vander Gheynst, Mary Ellen Wilson, and Dorothy Zinsmeister,
Announcements and Information: Dr. Jan Kettlewell (BOR Liaison-Education) shared with the committee work that is on going by the Governor's Education Reform Study Commission: Education Personnel Committee. Two papers were distributed to the membership. (Contact one of the leadership team if you need these papers.) She suggested that these be discussed at a future meeting.
The order of the agenda was changed to allow F.D. Toth, Executive Secretary, Professional Standards to share information from the Governor's Commission, PSC and Institutional Report Card. Dr. Toth spoke of the shortage of teachers in Georgia and measures being considered to encourage students to go into teaching. He mentioned that the Governor is working with all GA college presidents to make educator preparation a priority on their campuses. He referred the membership to the PSC website (www.gapsc.com) for information on requirements for technology for teachers beginning June 2002. Then he shared the availability of scholarships for teachers for NBPTS and indicated forms were available from PSC for these.
Next, Dr. Toth discussed the process and procedures that PSC had taken to fulfill the Higher Education Act of 1998 for the Institutional Report Card. He discussed the difference in interpretation between Georgia and the Federal government on program completers and that PSC probably will report according to the GA definition, although all aspects haven't been resolved yet. He urged the membership to use the data from Praxis II to drive improvement of programs. Basically, he reported, GA had a + or - 90%, ranging from 85-95%.
In a response to a question from a member, Toth indicated that he would check out the possibility of having ETS bring the tests to Georgia again for an inservice with educator preparation faculty.
Finally, Toth reported that certification in the Middle Grades will be changed to require two content areas and teacher candidates will be tested in these certification areas. Teams will be set-up in the state to work on the test content in Social Science, Science, Math and English/Language Arts. (Memberships on the committees should be suggested to PSC.)
Agenda Item #3 (Area A Math Requirements FOR MAJORS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION)
Dr. Dorothy Zinsmeister (BOR Liaison) presented a proposal to the EPACC from the Science Academic Committees (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geology/Geography) (see meeting handout) concerning the required math course in Area A that specifically applies to the secondary education programs for a number of Science disciplines. Dr. Zinsmeister indicated that the Advisory Committees in most of the specific discipline areas (Physics did not respond) were strongly supportive of the proposal. The short discussion of the subject was very positive. A motion was made (Larry Peterson) and seconded (Arnie Cooper) as follows: "EPAAC endorses the attached recommendation from the science Academic Advisory Committees. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
Agenda Items #4 and #5 (B.S. and B.A. Degrees in Disciplines with Teacher Certification)
At last year's meeting, considerable discussion took place on the subject of the Regents' requirement of BS or BA degrees (with certification) for the preparation of high school teachers. Following that meeting a proposal was drafted by Lord, Patterson and Lumpkin (attached) to resolve inconsistencies among Board Policies for Preparation of High School Teachers that was put forth and subsequently rejected by the Office of Academic Affairs. According to Dr. Kettlewell, Vice Chancellor Dan Papp is now willing to take the three specific recommendations embodied in this proposal to the Board of Regents for their consideration if these recommendations have the support of EPAAC. These recommendations apply only to high school teachers and according to Dr. Kettlewell an implicit understanding in supporting these recommendations is that no BSED degree would be offered for high school teachers. Area F would be entirely discipline courses and would not include education courses and that the education courses included in the first two years would include field experience. Dr. Kettlewell speculated that we might have to reconsider the maximum number of hours that could be transferred from two-year institutions
A proposal was made (Tom Harrison) and seconded (Rob Freeman) as follows: "The EPAAC agrees in principal with the three recommendations set forth in the proposal and asks the co-chairs to establish a task force to work with the co-chairs and BOR Liaisons to study the proposal to ensure that implementation is feasible and to draft a specific proposal (including any necessary modifications) to be submitted to EPAAC for approval. This motion unanimously approved by the committee. Although it is recognized that this proposal pertains specifically to high school teacher education, the task force was additionally asked to see whether broad field certification or K-12 programs could be included in the specific proposal recommendation to EPAAC. It was the sense of the secretary of these committee minutes that if broad field certification or K-12 programs were not workable within this framework, that the committee wanted the task force to move forward with a specific proposal applicable only to high school teachers as originally intended.
Agenda Item #6 (Strategies for raising PRAXIS scores)
After considerable discussion of various aspects of the PRAXIS II test, several committee members regarding the validity of the PRAXIS II test and its correlation with teacher performance in the classroom expressed concern. Questions were asked regarding whether there was any study of the relationship between Praxis II performance and content knowledge in the subject. There was a suggestion that the Item Specifications of PRAXIS should be a matter of public record and available to Georgia institutions of higher education involved in teacher preparation. Concerns were also expressed about the use of PRAXIS II institutional scores for renewal of accreditation.
A motion was made (Wil Campbell) and seconded (John Black) as follows: " EPAAC write a letter to the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) asking them to revisit the process of selecting the PRAXIS II test to ensure the validity of its content and appropriateness for Georgia teacher education program. Dr. Campbell will be asked to draft a letter for review by the co-chairs and the BOR Liaisons for submittal to the PSC.
A motion was made and seconded but subsequently withdrawn after some discussion that "the Praxis I test be substituted for the Regents' Test". Instead a motion was put forth (Kurt Myers) and seconded (Tom Harrison) as follows: "The co-chairs appoint a study group to assess the appropriateness of allowing students to substitute PRAXIS I for the Regents' Test and also the implications for allowing this substitution for all students in the University System of Georgia". This motion passed but with nine dissenting votes.
Respectfully submitted by Laurence I. Peterson on October 31, 2000