Committee Minutes

NCSS Teacher Education and Professional Development Committee

Minutes of the November 17, 2005 Meeting

Committee members present: Trenia Walker (Chair), Susie Burroughs (Vice Chair), Mark Copp (CS4 Representative), Alberta Dougan (NCSS/NCATE Program Review Coordinator), Amy Goode, Ted Green, Mary Beth Henning, Karon Lecompte, Susan Santoli, Eileen Sheehy (BOD Liaison), Cynthia Sunal.

Guests at the meeting: Kristin Alvarez and Nancy Gallavan (former committee members), Peggy Altoff (NCSS President-Elect), and Jeff Passe (NCSS President).

Trenia Walker called the meeting to order and reviewed the agenda. It was moved and seconded (Susie/Karon) that the committee report submitted the previous year by Kristin Alvarez, former committee chair, be accepted with a minor revision. The motion passed.

Susie reported the critical issues survey conducted on behalf of the committee earlier this year resulted in two conference sessions ? one at CUFA and one at NCSS. A draft paper of the findings of the survey were distributed, and it was announced the members who participated in the project plan to work to have the paper published in order to reach a wider audience concerning the three critical issues highlighted in the study (i.e., the need for quality professional development, problems associated with the quantity and quality of social studies education, and issues related to testing and accountability).

Discussion ensued re the dominant role of literacy to the exclusion of social studies and science education. Karon stated she would provide the committee with pertinent preliminary findings from a large-scale study conducted at Vanderbilt on student engagement. In addition, Karon offered to contact a colleague who is an IRA member to ascertain the organization?s stance on literacy as it relates to social studies education.

Peggy Altoff, president-elect of NCSS, was recognized, and she provided valuable information to the committee concerning next year?s conference dates, location, and highlights. She offered to provide the committee assistance as needed.

Jeff Passe, current president of NCSS, was recognized, and he informed the group about a CUFA ad hoc committee chaired by Keith Barton that will consider NCATE-related issues (e.g., history departments? difficulties meeting the social studies standards, the possibility of updating the NCSS thematic standards, considerations related to competing accreditation agencies, and general concerns about the NCATE review process). Jeff stated that recommendations from the ad hoc committee will be forwarded to the Teacher Education and Professional Development Committee for consideration, likely some time in the spring. Jeff said the ad hoc committee would welcome input and that such input may be forwarded to Keith and/or Jeff.

Alberta explained the NCSS thematic standards will be up for review again in 2010 and that due to the time in takes for new standards to go through the approval cycle, any changes will take years to make. Discussion ensued re difficulties associated with the review process (e.g., national vs. state standards, the amount of reporting and documentation required, and the need for assessment models).

It was moved and seconded (Karon/Mary Beth) that if/when the standards are reviewed that the student and teacher standards be reviewed in tandem and that definitions of terms be provided (e.g., ?assessment?). The motion passed.

Mary Beth emphasized that it will be important the committee have the ad hoc committee?s recommendations in time to consider them carefully and to have a face-to-face meeting to discuss their implications before making any decisions. She suggested it would be helpful to have a member of the ad hoc committee present when their recommendations are considered.

Eileen offered the following report from the BOD: The financial picture is good, the committee?s concern (last year) over the transition was resolved (i.e., the committee will remain a committee), the changes in the BOD?s composition to be voted on during the HOD meeting on Saturday, and NCSS is hiring a firm to step up lobbying efforts on the Hill.

It was discussed whether or not there might be a better time to meet during the annual conference, perhaps on Wednesday afternoon or Friday morning. Pros and cons of the various times were considered, and the discussion was tabled due to a lack of consensus. All agreed, however, that if the day and/or time are changed, Ella should be notified of the change in a timely way.

It was determined that Susie Burroughs will serve as Committee Chair and Karon Lecompte will serve as Vice Chair for the 2006-07 fiscal year. (Because Susie?s appointment to the committee expires next summer, Trenia will request Susie be reappointed to the committee for another three years.)

Due to a lack of time, the committee tabled the following topics until the next meeting: mentoring programs and school/university partnerships.

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 P.M.

Committee Actions or Recommendations

Members supported the idea that if/when NCSS thematic strands are reviewed and/or revised (our understanding was 2010) the student and teacher standards would be reviewed/revised at the same time. Also that definitions of terms be provided (i.e. assessment).

Committee Work Still In Progress

Discussion of mentoring programs and school/university partnerships