Statement of CAEP President James G. Cibulka on 44th Annual Phi Delta Kappa / Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes toward the Public Schools

"Today's release of the 44th Annual Phi Delta Kappa / Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools holds particularly relevant data for teacher preparation. For the first time, the poll included questions regarding teacher preparation and evaluation, reflecting increasing public attention to these issues as part of the education reform dialogue.

"We are encouraged by the fact that more than three-quarters of Americans believe that entrance requirements into teacher preparation programs should be as rigorous as or more selective than engineering, business, pre-law, and pre-medicine. A belief that increasing the rigor of college teacher preparation programs could produce more effective teachers, coupled with Americans' continued trust and confidence in teachers, indicates a deep commitment to those that engage in the important work of educating our children.

"This public sentiment is directly aligned with the work the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is doing to ensure the preparation of highly effective educators. CAEP accomplishes this through the accreditation of educator preparation programs in which candidates demonstrate knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions geared toward raising student achievement.

"The report shows that the public demands rigor; the CAEP Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting is working to make this a reality. Through the Commission's work in developing rigorous accreditation standards, we will raise the bar for educator preparation providers and ensure that every classroom in the nation has an effective teacher." For more information, please visit the following link:

CAEP Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting

http://caepnet.org/standards/commission-on-standards

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The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is a new accrediting body moving educator preparation to excellence through continuous improvement and research-based transformation. CAEP ensures the preparation of highly qualified educators through the accreditation of programs in which candidates demonstrate knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions geared toward raising student achievement; resources and practices support candidate learning; and data drive decisions. For more information, please visit www.caepnet.org.