Welcome to Educator Preparation!
Preparing quality teachers and other professional educators for the State of Nebraska is a vital component of the Nebraska Department of Education’s mission. The Teacher Education Program Approval section is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and approving teacher and administrator education programs that lead to certification to teach, administer, and provide special services in schools. There are 16 institutions in the state with approved educator preparation programs.
Primary responsibilities of the Educator Preparation Section:
The Nebraska Council on Teacher Education (NCTE) is an advisory body to the Nebraska State Board of Education. Its members are appointed by the State Board. They represent organizations across the state that are directly involved with or interested in teacher and administrative preparation. Members also include representatives from Nebraska higher education institutions approved by the State Board to prepare and recommend teachers, administrators, counselors, and those seeking special services endorsements for certification. The State Board of Education holds sole authority over the approval and certification of college programs.
NCTE develops and recommends standards for State Board approval and adoption related to:
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- Approval of Nebraska colleges that train teachers, counselors, administrators, or special service staff.
- Admission into and retention in an approved professional education program leading to teacher, counselor, administrative, or special services certification.
- Issuance of teacher, counselor, administrative, and special services certificates.
- Certificate endorsements.
- Relationships of Nebraska teacher, counselor, administrator, and special services certification with other states and national bodies.