With state resources for higher education under constant pressure, it is critical to understand how to maximize institutional performance while being economical with resource allocation. Future workforce demands will call for an increasing number of those entering the workforce to have some form of higher education instruction, beyond their…

Hiring and retaining the highest quality teachers is a top priority for any school district. However, given the current challenges that districts face in today's educational climate and with the recently recovering economy and the looming retirement bubble about to burst, this priority becomes even more imperative. This study focused on gathering…

This dissertation is my effort to better understand how teacher educators teach professional, anti-racist teaching practice to novice teachers. I argue that one important way to interrupt systemic racism in schooling is to design teacher education that both teaches novice teachers what anti-racist practice is and helps them gain some initial skill…

[Miami-Dade County Public Schools] M-DCPS had 22,447 graduates in the 2016-2017 academic year. Most students, 94%, achieved a standard diploma (24 credits). Some students choose an alternative curriculum where 333 (1%) achieved an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma and 404 (2%) achieved an International Baccalaureate…

Most states now have a statewide credential attainment goal, which sets targets for the number of residents with a postsecondary credential. These goals can help states to increase the educational levels of the adult population and address the workforce needs of the state. Unfortunately, many states may lack the capability to measure progress…

Professional learning is and always has been a core expectation for educators. Educators, whether they are self-directed as intrinsically motivated learners or compliantly fulfilling requirements set by their employing districts and state departments, engage in professional learning throughout their careers. While educators engage in traditional…

This article has four aims. First, it will explain what factors led to the initial PHETE program review, and the phasing out of the traditional program at Penn State University. Second, it will describe the steps that were taken during the development of the Applied Exercise and Health dual-pathway degree option. Third, it will provide a…

The aim of this study was to examine preservice physical education teachers' perceived competence in selecting teaching techniques according to certain variables. The research was designed as a descriptive study using a screening model. The study universe consisted of a total of 348 preservice physical education teachers studying in different…

Alternative certification programs provide a potential solution for teacher shortages in high-needs settings and content areas. These programs often attract career changers, who bring a passion for their content area and a desire to make it relevant to students. Research suggests that support during the first year is critical, but little is known…

This paper describes the oral assessment activity we designed and used as a culminating activity for faculty participants in a professional academic development program. The program offers multiple certificates, and the goal of each certificate is to enhance participants' abilities to design and deliver exceptional student learning experiences. We…

This paper explores the development of a flexible, free, online certificate program built on open educational resources to support instructors transitioning to online and non-traditional teaching modes. The program offers multiple pathways to completion, including recognition of prior learning and immersing participants in the online learning…

This study examines the impact of a pedagogical strategy using individual life mapping as a foundational piece of a graduate educational leadership program. We argue that active learning opportunities, like life mapping, allow educational leadership students to explore more fully their sense-making processes about systems leadership, which is…

The last several decades have seen significant growth among private options in alternative teacher education and certification. In this article, I draw on two parallel ethnographic studies of the experiences of participants in variants of one particular alternative teacher education model, developed by Teach For America in the United States and…

Prior research indicates that future workers will not possess enough training to contribute to a robust U.S. labor market, especially in "middle-skill" roles that require some postsecondary education but not a 4-year degree. At the same time, the last 30 years have borne witness to an increased likelihood that middle-skill individuals…

The outlook for the future of colleges and universities is uncertain. Financial stresses, changing student populations, and rapidly developing technologies all pose significant challenges to the nation's colleges and universities. In "Academia Next," futurist and higher education expert Bryan Alexander addresses these evolving trends to…