The National Association of State Boards of Education, at the request of nasbe officials, last week became a member of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, an organization that accredits the schools of education that produce most of the nation’s teachers.
It is the first time in the history of ncate that the association has participated in the activities of the ac-crediting council, according to ncate officials.
“This is a very significant comment by the state boards,” said Richard Kunkel, executive director of ncate. “It is an indication of their concern about the quality of teacher-training institutions and their interest in having a direct impact on standards-setting,” he said.
The state boards’ organization will be a “constituent” or voting member of ncate, Mr. Kunkel said.
ncate is in the process of reforming its accrediting process and the larger role that state officials will have on the council is part of that reform, Mr. Kunkel added.
ncate constitutent members are scheduled to vote on the final draft of the organization’s “redesign” in June. (See Education Week, Oct. 24, 1984.)
