Nyack College School of Education has received accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the nation’s prestigious professional accrediting body for teacher preparation, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. NCATE currently accredits 614 institutions, which produce two-thirds of the nation’s new teacher graduates each year.

Dean of the School of Education, Dr. Bennett Schepens, attributes the success of Nyack College in the NCATE process to a highly qualified and caring faculty.  “Professors at Nyack College are not only expert in their fields, but are also experienced practitioners who mentor students to excellence in the classroom.  Our students are also fortunate to have excellent cooperating schools and teachers in Nyack, Rockland County and New York City.”

NCATE-accredited schools must meet rigorous standards set by the profession and members of the public. Teacher candidates must have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter that they plan to teach, as well as the skills necessary to convey it so that students learn. The college or university must carefully assess this knowledge and skill to determine that candidates may graduate. The institution must have partnerships with P-12 schools that enable candidates to develop the skills necessary to help students learn. Candidates must be prepared to understand and work with diverse student populations. College and university faculty must model effective teaching practices.  And the school, college, or department of education must have the resources, including information technology resources, necessary to prepare candidates to meet new standards.  NCATE revises its standards every five years to incorporate best practice and research.

Meeting NCATE accreditation standards also helps institutions prepare graduating teachers for new, more rigorous licensing standards in New York and many other states.  NCATE accreditation standards incorporate the model state licensing principles developed by a task force of the Council of Chief State School Officers.

NCATE is composed of more than 30 professional and policymaker organizations representing millions of Americans committed to quality teaching. It was founded in 1954 by the teaching profession and the states. NCATE continues its mission today: the profession and the states working together for excellence in teacher preparation and development.