Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership Grant
awarded to American University's School of Education
in the College of Arts and Sciences
(6.8 million over 5 years)

American University and a group of partners from the DC area received an award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Quality Enhancement Program to enhance the content knowledge and teaching skills of teachers and to increase the academic achievement of students in Washington, DC, public and public charter schools. American University, by assuming a leadership role, will provide the central focus for the partnership and a home for the community of scholars and school leaders who will assess, model, and design a framework of comprehensive teacher professional development with the overreaching goal of improving the quality of teacher education through a model built on supportive professional development structures for new and practicing teachers.

Building on the technological infrastructure and academic rigor of the institution, the School of Education andCollege of Arts and Sciences will draw scholars from academic disciplines across campus into the process of designing an ongoing professional development model. These scholars will work directly with key representatives from a small number of DC public and charter schools in a “think tank” format to analyze and test methods to connect career ladders; teacher contracts, evaluations, and compensation strategies; and the professional development plans of individuals and schools. Leading thinkers and researchers on teacher preparation and professional development will be brought in to inform the work of the think tank.

As the model framework grows and evolves various components will be tested and evaluated in AU’s teacher preparation program and in the activities of the partners. The major project outcome -- a professional development framework that is aligned with national and District of Columbia standards -- will strengthen schools' ability to attract and retain high quality teachers which will, in turn, improve student learning.

This project enhances the existing teacher education programs at AU by expanding the university’s role beyond initial teacher preparation to become a place where teachers can turn for their continued professional development, by developing a supportive network of mentors to work with new teachers in the early years of their careers. In addition this project assists teachers with preparation for the Praxis III and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification, and by working with a collaborative team of partners, builds a comprehensive and replicable professional development model for urban teachers.

Building on the Quality Assurance Model presented by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the project utilizes the university’s strengths to support teachers throughout their education and their careers.