OLD DOMINION GUARANTEES QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION GRADUATES

Old Dominion University unveiled a new program guaranteeing the quality and preparedness of its teacher education graduates. "Old Dominion University's Teacher Education Graduates are Ready to Teach" was announced at the Dec. 12 Board of Visitors meeting and is effective immediately.

"Old Dominion is able to issue this guarantee because of the university's commitment to excellence in education preparation and because of the quality of students ODU attracts to teaching careers," said William Graves, dean of the Darden College of Education. "We are pleased to issue the guarantee because of what it means for our graduates and Virginia schools."

The program guarantees its graduates' preparedness for the first two years of teaching after graduation from Old Dominion and receipt of the university's recommendation for initial licensure in Virginia. The university will "take back" any teacher who has been mentored by the employing school division according to the Guidelines for Mentor Teacher Programs for Beginning and Experienced Teachers of Virginia and who has been identified by a school division as having less than acceptable performance in a classroom. Old Dominion will provide the teacher with additional preparation at no cost to the teacher or the school division.

While several schools around the country have begun offering such guarantees, Old Dominion's program is only the second such program in Virginia, with the University of Virginia offering a similar warranty.

Under the program, Old Dominion guarantees that its graduates:
*meet all criteria for designation as a highly qualified teacher in Virginia;
*demonstrate expertise in the subject matter for which they are recommended for licensure;
*are able to set high student-learning standards for all children and to organize curriculum, instruction, and assessment *around the Virginia Standards of Learning;
*are able to use instructional technologies to enhance student learning;
*are able to effectively create a positive learning environment in the classroom;
*are able to use information about student learning and achievement to set benchmarks and to monitor student progress toward continuous improvement; and,
*show evidence of student accomplishment by enabling P-12 students from diverse groups to achieve at high levels.

Old Dominion's Darden College of Education is among the top producers of teachers in Virginia. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in education, counseling and human services, exercise science, sports management, recreation, training, fashion, speech-language disorders, and instructional and occupational technology.

For more information about the teacher guarantee call the college at 757-683-3777.