Negotiations over new rules for U.S. teacher-preparation programs collapsed yesterday, with representatives from the Department of Education and teacher-training colleges divided over a plan to require states to rate programs based on student-learning outcomes.
During a three-hour conference call aimed at resolving the panel’s differences, negotiators from minority-serving institutions and private colleges said they were uncomfortable being evaluated based on how much their graduates’ future students learn, saying existing measures are unproven.
“I have not seen a research base” to justify including learning outcomes in the criteria for ranking institutions, said Beverly Young, assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs for the California State University system, who was representing Hispanic-serving institutions.