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State Board approves UTeach educator-preparation programs at six universities
Summary
The Alabama State Board of Education unanimously approved resolutions allowing six universities to offer the UTeach model for educator preparation, a nontraditional pathway that pairs STEM majors with teacher certification coursework.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama State Board of Education voted unanimously March 14 to approve educator preparation programs using the UTeach model at six universities, board members said.
The resolutions authorize Alabama A&M University, Athens State University, Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, the University of South Alabama and the University of West Alabama to implement the UTeach model, which pairs students in mathematics, engineering and science programs with an accelerated path to teacher certification.
Board staff presented the items together and said the model aims to recruit STEM majors into teaching without requiring extra years of coursework. “The UTeach model was originally developed at the University of Texas at Austin,” Dr. Mackey said in remarks the board heard before the votes. He said participating universities will work with their students to add teacher certification “so they don't have to stay extra years to get their teacher certification.” Dr. Lee Meadows was cited by staff as a local collaborator who helped bring the model to the state.
Board members approved each institution’s resolution by voice vote. Each motion carried with a unanimous vote; the transcript records the outcomes as unanimous but does not include numerical tallies.
Board staff said the Alabama STEM Council has provided some funds to help defray start-up costs and that each university takes on responsibility and some cost to implement the model. The board also said the programs will coordinate with the department’s teacher-certification unit for oversight.
Why it matters: State officials have pointed to UTeach as a way to increase the pipeline of qualified STEM teachers by enabling students to add certification during their undergraduate training. The board's action allows multiple institutions to begin or expand such offerings in Alabama.
The board took the votes under its regular business agenda; staff did not report additional implementation deadlines during the meeting.
