NCATE Approved NAAEE's Environmental Education Standards!

In October 2007, NAAEE submitted environmental education standards to the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, which accredits more than half of the 1,200 or so colleges of teacher education in the U.S.

Subsequently, Art Wise, NCATE President, said in his letter to NAAEE:..  

“the Specialty Areas Studies Board (SASB) considered the application for approval of the program standards of NAAEE.  The decision of that board was to approve the NAAEE standards for environmental education...  

“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you and your association for the high quality of your standards, and to express our appreciation for the dedication and hard work of staff and members of NAAEE. As a member of the NCATE family, NAAEE will significantly broaden the breadth and depth of our discussions, with implications important not only to NCATE but to a wide variety of constituents."

NCATE Standards for the Initial Preparation of Environmental Educators

NCATE Program Report Form

Congratulations to the writing team headed by Bora Simmons

and to Terry Wilson, NAAEE's representative to NCATE!

How does this impact universities?

"Adding NAAEE standards to the NCATE protocols will encourage teacher education programs to take environmental education seriously. The issues facing our society require teachers that are prepared to teach about the environment, based upon the standards of our profession.”  

   Dean of the College of Education, Western Kentucky University

What does this mean to the EE profession?

        •         Sixty percent of all the colleges and universities that certify teachers are accredited by NCATE
•         To be certified, a university must document that all EE courses taught on campus are meeting NAAEE's standards – even if they are not in the Education School
•         Many faculty who already teach EE are told they cannot offer another course because that course will not help the institution meet NCATE standards
•         Now lots of faculty members will get permission to offer more courses in EE – more EE will actually get offered – both at schools that teach it now and new ones

Our partnership with NCATE offers greater legitimacy to EE as a profession.

•         Environmental Education is now being accepted as an important part of formal education training!

•         More EE should be taught in schools as teachers are better trained to provide it

•         More jobs should become available

 

NAAEE’s Pre-Service Task Force conducted the first training for university compilers of NCATE reports at NAAEE's 2007 annual conference. This was the official launch of the EE standards after NCATE’s adoption. Several celebrations were held during different sessions at the conference. More trainings will be offered in 2008 to prepare for the first university to submit its EE program!

If you have any questions about the standards or the process, please do not hesitate to contact Bora directly.

Bora Simmons, Chair

NCATE EE Standards Writing Team

borasimmons at gmail.com

NCATE Standards for the Initial Preparation of Environmental Educators

NCATE Program Report Form

How NAAEE Developed the NCATE EE Standards

EETAP Article on NCATE Accreditation

Higher Education Directory of Environmental Education Programs and Faculty

Electronic directory of EE programs and faculty in the college and university setting.

The directory will help faculty network with each other, as well as provide direction to students seeking an institution that matches their interests in environmental courses and degree plans. The directory also supports NAAEE’s work with the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Search the Higher Education Directory

The Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of  Environmental Educators

The Guidelines are recommendations about the basic knowledge and abilities educators need to provide high-quality environmental education. The guidelines are designed to apply:

• Within the context of pre-service teacher education programs and environmental education courses offered to students with varied backgrounds such as environmental studies, geography, liberal studies, or natural resources;

• To the professional development of educators who will work in both formal and nonformal educational settings, offering programs at the pre-kindergarten through 12th grade levels; and

• To full-time environmental educators as well as for those for whom environmental education is just one of their responsibilities.

Environmental educators work in a variety of settings, at a variety of jobs. They teach in public and private classrooms, and lead activities for children and adults at nonformal educational institutions such as nature centers, zoos, museums, and parks. They teach at universities in education, environmental studies, geography, natural resource, and science programs. They develop curriculum materials and administer national, state, and local programs. Regardless of the setting, Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of Environmental Educators outlines the experiences and learning that will help them deliver instruction that effectively fosters environmental literacy.

Background Information>>