Important issues related to the improvement of teacher education are discussed. Internal characteristics of current programs should be considered before reaching the conclusion that extended programs are necessary. (MT)

Highlighted in this paper are several hidden costs entailed by mandating that all teachers be prepared through 5 or 6 years of teacher education, with the professional part of that preparation occurring at the graduate level. Four areas where mandating extended preparation may lead to hidden costs are identified: (1) encouraging a focus on…

This document offers three papers that were commissioned by the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE) for presentation at the organization's April 10, 1987 meeting. The challenge to each author (one representing the Minnesota State University System, one the University of Minnesota system, and…

The Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia has developed a 5-year teacher education program to improve and strengthen preservice preparation. Changes in the program are based on beliefs regarding characteristics of effective teacher education programs and the requirements necessary to implement those characteristics. The program…

Results of a national survey of schools and departments of education, undertaken in 1981 by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education on attitudes of teacher educators on extended teacher education programs, indicated a general skepticism about their effectiveness. A similar survey was conducted of educators in Texas. A five-item,…

A description is presented of a new extended teacher education program at Memphis State University. Instituted in 1985, the program has four objectives: (1) to develop and implement an extended (five-year) program covering all areas of teacher preparation, with institutional recommendation for certification coming only after completion of the…

In the third regional forum on positive change in teacher education, two themes dominated discussions: the pros and cons of the "fifth-year" plan for teacher education, and the impact and future of standardized testing. In both areas, a major emphasis on traditonally black institutions emerged. This report outlines the discussions, and…

The integrated, undergraduate/graduate 5-year teacher education program at the University of New Hampshire continues to show increasing enrollments, while attracting academically superior students who, for the most part, are entering classroom teaching. The program features a full year internship in the fifth year, a semester of classroom…

A series of model five-year teacher education programs are described. Two main types of programs are included--state-initiated programs and university-based fifth-year programs. An analysis and description of of the following programs is presented: (1) Florida Performance Program Management System--Beginning Teacher Program; (2) Kentucky…

As various models for future teacher education programs are explored, extended programs of five years or more are frequently considered. Many questions are raised by this concept. Results of a survey of experienced and preservice teachers' and college heads' attitudes toward extended programs are discussed. (DF)

Some recent education reform proposals call for two essential and interrelated structural changes: changes in the organization of teaching, and a change from undergraduate to graduate degree status for initial teacher preparation. This paper examines these arguments for professionalizing teaching, and raises doubts that the goals set forth in the…

PROTEACH is a newly redesigned five-year preservice teacher preparation program at the University of Florida. During progress through the program, the bachelor's degree is obtained, and the program culminates on completion of the master's degree. Program features include emphasis on research and study in fields supplementary to education-related…

The restructuring of teacher education programs must involve a collaboration between members of college faculties involved in producing educational knowledge and those who use the knowledge to train teachers. The restructuring also involves: (1) extending the teacher training period to a minimum of five years; (2) better integration of the…

This paper examines strategies used in an attempt to solve problems of the secondary teacher shortage in Zimbabwe following independence and the expansion of secondary education opportunities. Teacher training is examined, and a survey of teacher candidate opinions of their training is summarized. (Author/MT)

The trend toward expanding the normal four-year teacher education program into a fifth year is discussed, and the University of Kansas extended program is described. A major criticism of the Kansas program was that a better analysis of educational needs should have preceded implementation of the lengthened teacher education program. (PP)