On Sept. 2, the Connecticut State Board of Education voted unanimously to grant continuing approval to Eastern Connecticut State University’s teacher education programs through September 2019.
By statue, all educator preparation programs within the state require board approval, and the process occurs on a five-year cycle. Under the approval process, universities undergo external evaluation by a team consisting of a State Department liaison and academic peers. The evaluation begins with an electronic review of institutional reports followed by an on-site visit lasting several days. The institution then provides follow-up documentation to an independent state review committee to address the on-site evaluation findings and recommendations. The committee then makes a recommendation to the State Board regarding approval.

“I congratulate the faculty in our teacher preparation program for this important milestone,” said Eastern President Elsa Núñez.  “Nothing is more important to the stability and sustainability of our education programs than gaining state approval.
“To have unanimous approval from the State Board of Education is a ringing endorsement for the hard work our faculty have put into enhancing their courses, expanding the curriculum, modernizing instructional delivery, and monitoring student outcomes.”

Since its beginnings in 1889 as a normal school training elementary schoolteachers, Eastern has been committed to preparing outstanding educators to teach in Connecticut’s schools. In 2004, the University received national accreditation for its teacher preparation programs from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
In 2014, the National Council on Teacher Quality ranked Eastern’s Elementary Education program as eighth best in the nation and number one in New England.  The secondary education program was rated as one of the top three programs in the region, and one of the top 50 in the United States.

Given the fact that upwards of 50 percent of all teachers in Connecticut have retired in the past 10 years, Eastern officials understand the importance of preparing new educators to take up the teaching profession. “We are pleased that our teacher preparation programs are being recognized for meeting state and national teacher preparation standards,” said Provost Dimitrios Pachis. “Eastern will continue to prepare more teacher graduates at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the areas of elementary, secondary and early childhood education to meet the future needs of Connecticut’s schools, thus fulfilling our state-mandated historic mission.”

Eastern offers undergraduate and select graduate programs in Early Childhood, Educational Technology, Elementary Education, Physical Education, and Secondary Education.