Dana Thomas PhD Vice President for Academic Affairs University of Alaska System

What Role does UA Play in K-12? UA educates teachers, school counselors, and administrators and provides continuing education programs – accredited by CAEP Conduct research on critical education issues in Alaska Alaska Teacher Placement Program Alaska Statewide Mentoring Program Future Educators of Alaska Other partnerships include: Dual credit enrollment Middle College – Eagle River & Effie Kokrine Early College in Fairbanks Alaska Learning Network Major UA Theme = Productive Partnerships With Alaska’s Schools

Issues Needing Our Attention Proposed new CAEP Standards for admission and a growing shortage of teachers nation wide. 26% of current UA undergraduate education majors will meet the proposed new standard in Alaska has the second lowest college-going rate in the nation (NCHEMS 2010 data = 46.4% compared to national 62.5%) Among Alaska high school graduates entering UA, 52% require developmental education; the vast majority in math Too few students complete UA certificates or associate degrees; (certificate/associate 11.3% AK versus 20.8% national). UA is doing fine in baccalaureate program completions (31.8% AK versus 31% national for public, open admission institutions) Alaska hires about 450 teachers from out of state annually and teacher turnover, particularly in rural Alaska is expensive and negatively impacts student learning outcomes

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UA Ideas About What Needs to Change – what do you think? Define postsecondary ready - ready to take and complete college level math and English UA Schools of Education are collaborating to improve teacher preparation and retention in rural Alaska –Rural Alaska Paraprofessional Program, ANSEP teacher program and the following additional ideas: target professional development for rural teachers, addressing teaching second language learners and Alaska Native culture for their particular district Provide a central resource of teaching materials, techniques, or complete lessons for mathematics and the sciences. Every student in an Alaska Performance Scholarship curriculum unless parent opts them out Improve math outcomes Implement college ready assessment no later than 11 th grade Facilitate K-12 & UA dual enrollment

Share best practices to improve student outcomes Annette Island, Lake and Penn, Aleutians East, the Pribilofs, and SE Island districts all have high proportions of economically disadvantaged students and have had high teacher turnover as well. All are rural or remote districts. Yet, their students’ SBA test performance is at or near the state median. More information on these schools and communities might show how to improve the success of other schools.

Preparing New Teachers for Alaska UA Teacher Education Consortium – a group focused on continuous improvement of UA teacher education programs Joint Committee of State Board of Education and UA Board of Regents Deans of Education UAA –Heather Ryan UAF – Allan Morotti UAS – Deb Lo What is working well in UA teacher preparation programs? What changes to UA teacher education programs would you like to see? What professional development do your teachers need to ensure student success?