In this, the 100th anniversary of the formation of the School of Education (SOE) at KU, Dean Rick Ginsberg announced that the SOE will move from a five-year to a four-year teacher preparation program beginning in 2011 pending state and university approval. Since the 1980s, the School has offered a five-year model with students receiving a baccalaureate degree after four years, then spending a fifth year in clinical experiences and graduate education courses.  The program was built on the best thinking about teacher education in the 1980s and has served the state, region and nation well.  Indeed, school districts strongly recruit KU’s graduates.  As the SOE launches into its second millennium, the new program will maintain the key strengths of the five-year model, add the latest advances in teacher preparation, and provide a four-year program that will best meet the needs of the state in today’s educational and economic climate.

The SOE regularly monitors its programs.  For the past year a committee of faculty members carefully reviewed strengths and weaknesses of the current program and several alternative approaches.  The committee presented its findings to the Dean, who also analyzed current research, data about the current program including feedback from students, alumni, principals, superintendents and educational leaders from around the country.  As a result, Dean Ginsberg proposed that the School adopt a four-year model to meet today’s needs given the environment surrounding teacher preparation, the need for efficiencies and economies, and with the goal of maintaining the high standards of the five-year model in a more concise four-year structure.  Students will have the option of pursuing a master’s degree upon completion of the four-year degree.  The program will require approval from the university and state officials.

Implementation is planned for 2011, pending program approval.

Dean Ginsberg emphasized that he and all the faculty are proud of the five-year program that has served its many graduates very well for over twenty years.  But times and circumstances change.  He highlighted the following key reasons for moving to a four-year model at this time:

• The teacher education landscape offers students a variety of new ways to get licensed to teach.  Moving to a strong four-year model is consistent with this very dynamic environment and will best serve today’s students and schools.
• The cost of tuition has increased and requiring an additional year places undue hardship on students.  In addition, moving to a four-year program will allow students to enter the workforce a year earlier.
• Developing a strong four-year model will meet the state demands for greater efficiency in university operations.
• A well crafted four-year model can maintain the high standards that KU demands of its teacher licensure programs while also offering experiences with differentiated populations, possibilities for English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and special education endorsement, and provide the choice for students to obtain a master’s degree after licensure is obtained.

The details of the program, including specific courses, timelines, requirements and expectations remain to be determined.   As students raise questions, we will be posting statements on the SOE web-site that will be periodically updated about the new model and its impact.

Message for Students