Teacher-Educators Explore the Uncertain Future of Education Schools

Nearly 2,000 teacher-educators gathered here to talk about diversity, but many of their discussions revealed an underlying concern about the vitality of colleges of education.

In her inaugural speech as the president of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education at its 48th annual meeting last month, Barbara Burch touched on that fundamental issue.

"Today, it's increasingly clear that we are indeed a profession at risk," said Ms. Burch, the dean of the school of education and human development at California State University in Fresno. She acknowledged that colleges of education suffer from a reputation as...