1. Making Waves in Maryland Lessons Learned from the First State to Develop the AAT

2. Welcome Do you have a teacher education degree? What is the transfer experience your students have when they move to the 4- year school? What do you hope to learn from this session?

3. AAT = Associate of Arts in Teaching New transfer degree in 2002 Added to state regulations Result of teacher shortage state task force –Concerned about students and parents who complained to legislators about transfer difficulties –Recognized 50% of state teachers began their education at a community college

4. Purpose of the AAT Ease student transfer Increase pipeline Increase diversity –Nontraditional students Mature students Students of color Students with disabilities

5. Steps to Establishing the AAT United state education groups to acknowledge need for seamless transition Recognized that there are model programs/best practices of programs Determined who the stakeholders were (state dept, university system, public and private institutions, higher ed commission, community colleges). Considered the make- up of the group (50/50 2 & 4 year schools)

6. Steps to Establishing the AAT Developed a new degree/pathway (AAT) Determined certification area to consider first Discussed make-up of program (courses vs. outcomes) Considered national standards (ACEI, NCATE, NAEYC, CEC, etc.) Advocated for EDU courses & fieldwork Built consensus in determining the outcomes - committees were chosen for general ed and teacher ed outcomes

7. Steps to Establishing the AAT AAT planning committee developed a template to be used by all committees Each committee of 10 met often to define the outcomes based on professional organizations’ standards Community colleges built programs from outcomes –Developed new courses as needed (CC’s shared syllabi) –Designed field experience component/partnered with LSS –Built campus awareness; complete college processes –Developed crosswalks and programs of study for approval by MHEC and review by all higher education institutions

8. Continuous Review AAT Oversight Committee (2003) –Forum to discuss issues and concerns –Determine adding new AATs –Continuous Review (2009) Reviewing first AAT (elementary ed) Reviewing transition process

9. Available AATs Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Ed Elementary/Elementary Special Ed Secondary Chemistry Secondary English Secondary Math Secondary Physics Secondary Spanish

10. Requirements in all AATs Program of study Passing basic skills test GPA – 2.75 Fieldwork – 45 hours

11. Lessons Learned Early informed career choice Rigorous program (screening incorporated) 5 education courses plus field experience - students feel better prepared Community college students are at least as successful as native students Community college directors unite through MADTECC to advocate as a group

12. Hurdles Process was laborious Changing faces in teacher education departments, advising and admissions Understanding not at all levels – lack of buy-in throughout university education departments Misunderstanding of seamless transition Misunderstanding of the pipeline issue Flexible CC programs that fit nontraditional students; no flexibility at 4-year institutions

13. Why your state needs the AAT? What are your next steps? What can you do to get the process going? What connections do you already have in your state? What advice can we provide you to help?

14. Colleen Eisenbeiser Director, TEACH Institute & Parenting Center Anne Arundel Community College 410-777-1963 ckeisenbeiser@aacc.educkeisenbeiser@aacc.edu Linda Gronberg-Quinn Director/Department Chair, Teacher Education The Community College of Baltimore County 443.840.4153 Lgronberg@ccbcmd.eduLgronberg@ccbcmd.edu Fran Kroll Director of Teacher Education Howard Community College 443-518-4854 FKroll@howardcc.eduFKroll@howardcc.edu