Southeastern NEWS
                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           
    Date: April 10, 2001
      Contact:                           Rene Abadie     25

SOUTHEASTERN TEACHER PREP PROGRAM RATED HIGH

     HAMMOND  The teacher preparation program at Southeastern Louisiana University scored
higher than the state average in every category of assessment, according to institutional report
cards released by the Louisiana State Board of Regents on Monday (April 9). 
     Overall, the university had an institutional pass rate of 96 percent, compared to the statewide
pass rate of 87 percent, said Martha Head, interim dean of Southeastern's College of Education
and Human Development.
     The institutional report card is a federal mandate in response to the Higher Education Act. As
part of the act, the U.S. Department of Education is requiring all higher education institutions to
submit specific data on teacher preparation programs and the performance of their students on
standardized tests. The state's overall report card can be found on the Board of Regents web
page, www.regents.state.la.us.
     The report card indicates that Southeastern students had a significantly higher pass rate than
the state average in all areas of general assessment.  In the areas of professional knowledge,
Southeastern scored 98 percent, compared to the state average 94 percent; in academic content
areas, Southeastern had a 97 percent pass rate, compared to the state's 89 percent rate.
     In more specific assessment areas, Southeastern students achieved a 100 percent pass rate in
communication skills, general knowledge, professional knowledge, education in the elementary
school, biology and general science, and physical education. High scores were also achieved in
principles of learning and teaching for kindergarten through sixth grade (95 percent, compared to
the state average 85 percent), principles of learning and teaching for seventh through 12th grades
(92 percent compared to 85 percent), and elementary educational curriculum and instruction (94
percent compared to 83 percent).
     "The scores are indicative of the tremendous emphasis that Southeastern has traditionally
placed  on teacher preparation," said Sally Clausen, university president. "It was our confidence
in this program and the quality of the teachers we produce that led Southeastern to institute the
state's first teacher guarantee program last year."
     Under the teacher guarantee program, now in effect in 11 area school districts, Southeastern
promises that its graduates know their subject matter, can teach to diverse populations, and will
infuse technology throughout the curriculum. If any graduates fail to meet these criteria,
Southeastern promises to retrain those individuals at its own expense and to provide them with
an experienced mentor for at least a year.
     "This is the era of accountability in education," Clausen said, "and all teacher preparation
programs are coming under increasing scrutiny to demonstrate that the graduates we produce will
be able to teach children to the higher standards that are being set by states and school districts.
The teacher guarantee program is one way we are backing the quality of our program at
Southeastern."
     Clausen said Southeastern has adopted teacher preparation as a university-wide responsibility.
"Teacher quality is affected by both content knowledge and knowledge of how to teach," she
added, "and to achieve both these goals requires the participation and dedication of the whole
university."
     Southeastern ranks near the top in the number of teachers certified by the state, graduating
about 300 students every year through the College of Education and Human Development. In
addition, the university is ranked second in the state for the number of graduates who have
achieved the prestigious national board certification for teachers.
     "Our strong partnerships with area schools have enabled us to develop programs that enhance
the preparation of our students," said Head. Southeastern education students are required to gain
extensive classroom experience prior to beginning their mandatory student teaching.
     Head said other programs have contributed to the quality of teacher preparation at
Southeastern, including:
     --  a progressive alternative certification program offered through the Internet which will
allow individuals to gain certification any time, any place. A $1.8 million Congressional
appropriation recently granted to Southeastern will allow the university to expand this program.
     -- the Teachers Scholars Program, which provides intensive mentoring and an accelerated
master's degree for new, first-year teachers. The results of the program show that 97 percent of
the teachers participating  in the program are still in the classroom, compared to the tremendous
attrition rate associated with most new teachers.
     -- the state's only Principal Internship Program for all new public school principals. The
program blends business management training from the College of Business and Technology
with the leadership curriculum offered through the College of Education and Human
Development.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm