Making Waves in Maryland

Lessons Learned from the

First State to Develop the AAT

Welcome• Do you have a teacher education

degree?

• What is the transfer experience your students have when they move to the 4-year school?

• What do you hope to learn from this session?

AAT = Associate of Arts in Teaching• New transfer degree in 2002• Added to state regulations• Result of teacher shortage state task

force –Concerned about students and parents

who complained to legislators about transfer difficulties

–Recognized 50% of state teachers began their education at a community college

Purpose of the AAT

• Ease student transfer• Increase pipeline• Increase diversity

–Nontraditional students• Mature students• Students of color• Students with disabilities

Steps to Establishing the AAT

• United state education groups to acknowledge need for seamless transition

• Recognized that there are model programs/best practices of programs

• Determined who the stakeholders were (state dept, university system, public and private institutions, higher ed commission, community colleges). Considered the make-up of the group (50/50 2 & 4 year schools)

Steps to Establishing the AAT• Developed a new degree/pathway (AAT)• Determined certification area to consider

first• Discussed make-up of program (courses

vs. outcomes)• Considered national standards (ACEI,

NCATE, NAEYC, CEC, etc.)• Advocated for EDU courses & fieldwork• Built consensus in determining the

outcomes - committees were chosen for general ed and teacher ed outcomes

Steps to Establishing the AAT• AAT planning committee developed a template to be

used by all committees• Each committee of 10 met often to define the outcomes

based on professional organizations’ standards• Community colleges built programs from outcomes

– Developed new courses as needed (CC’s shared syllabi)– Designed field experience component/partnered with LSS– Built campus awareness; complete college processes– Developed crosswalks and programs of study for approval

by MHEC and review by all higher education institutions

Continuous Review

AAT Oversight Committee (2003)–Forum to discuss issues and concerns–Determine adding new AATs–Continuous Review (2009)

• Reviewing first AAT (elementary ed)• Reviewing transition process

Available AATs• Early Childhood/Early Childhood

Special Ed• Elementary/Elementary Special Ed• Secondary Chemistry• Secondary English• Secondary Math• Secondary Physics• Secondary Spanish

Requirements in all AATs

• Program of study• Passing basic skills test• GPA – 2.75• Fieldwork – 45 hours

Lessons Learned• Early informed career choice • Rigorous program (screening incorporated)• 5 education courses plus field experience -

students feel better prepared• Community college students are at least as

successful as native students• Community college directors unite through

MADTECC to advocate as a group

Hurdles• Process was laborious• Changing faces in teacher education

departments, advising and admissions• Understanding not at all levels – lack of buy-in

throughout university education departments• Misunderstanding of seamless transition• Misunderstanding of the pipeline issue• Flexible CC programs that fit nontraditional

students; no flexibility at 4-year institutions

Why your state needs the AAT?

• What are your next steps?• What can you do to get the process

going?• What connections do you already have

in your state?• What advice can we provide you to

help?

Colleen Eisenbeiser

Director, TEACH Institute & Parenting Center

Anne Arundel Community College

410-777-1963 ckeisenbeiser@aacc.edu

Linda Gronberg-Quinn

Director/Department Chair, Teacher Education   

The Community College of Baltimore County

443.840.4153  Lgronberg@ccbcmd.edu

Fran Kroll

Director of Teacher Education

Howard Community College

443-518-4854 FKroll@howardcc.edu