December 21, 2000
PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY FUNDS COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION GROUPS TO HELP IMPROVE SCHOOLS
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
The Pennsylvania Academy for the Profession of Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the State System of Higher Education and the state Department of Education, for the first time has funded seven regional K-16 Councils that will work collaboratively toward the goal of improving education at all levels.
Each of the councils includes representatives from a State System university, a non-System university or college, a Chamber of Commerce or other business partner, an intermediate unit, a public school district, local school boards and a community college. A State System university will serve as the lead partner of each council.
The seven regional councils receiving funding will be led by Clarion, Indiana, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.
Each council has designed a plan that will help to enhance the pre-service training of teachers and emphasize public school students’ abilities to learn basic education content and skills as defined by the state’s education standards.
Among the activities planned by the various councils:
· To plan and implement a seamless alignment of mathematics standards and instruction that will enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics, ensure improved student achievement in mathematics and facilitate a positive shift in attitude toward mathematics by students and teachers.
· To improve K-3 literacy of students and improve pre-service and in-service teachers’ skills for literacy instruction of inner city school students.
· To increase urban field experiences for pre-service teachers.
· To develop more effective intervention strategies for middle school students who are not achieving the Pennsylvania state standards in basic skills.
“The K-16 effort reflects a re-focused need to help extend the standards-based reform, which is now occurring in basic and higher education in Pennsylvania,” said Stephen Pavlak, associate vice chancellor for school and university programs. “On the national level, 15 states are currently implementing standards-based reform efforts.”
The ultimate goal of the K-16 Councils is to create a “seamless educational system” that allows students to progress naturally from kindergarten to the university level.
The Academy operates as part of the State System’s Educational Resources Group. Its mission is to promote excellence and equity in education by leading K-16 educational reform. It will support and lead the establishment of the regional councils throughout the state.
Additionally, the Academy serves as a liaison between Pennsylvania’s teacher preparation institutions and local school districts in efforts to enhance the professional development of both pre-service and in-service teachers. In that role, it promotes partnerships between basic and higher education communities and promotes campus-based reform efforts in existing teacher preparation programs.
Funding for the Academy has been provided through both the State System and the state Department of Education.
The Academy’s primary office is in Richards Hall at the Dixon University Center, 2986 North Second Street, Harrisburg. It also has an office in the Regional Enterprise Tower (Room 410) in Pittsburgh.
With more than 96,000 students, the State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.