Gov. Steve Beshear announced this week that the Kentucky has been named as one of seven states to participate in a two-year pilot program to train future teachers.

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) created the Network for Transforming Educator Preparation (NTEP) to help states ensure all new teachers are ready on the first day of their careers to prepare their students for college, work and life.

The network will use successful practices used in several states to influence policies affecting teacher preparation and licensing. These policies may also influence training for school administrators, such as principals.

“Kentucky has long been a leader in education reform, thanks in large part to our enthusiastic and adaptive workforce of dedicated educators,” Gov. Beshear said. “Students learn best from well-prepared and well-trained teachers. The work of this pilot project supports our commitment to Kentucky’s children to provide them with a world-class education and to equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed today and as our workforce of tomorrow.”

Over the next two years, the NTEP states will work with educators, training programs, colleges and universities, and school districts to improve the way states prepare the teacher workforce.

Education Commissioner Terry Holiday served on the CCSSO Task Force on Educator Preparation and Entry into the Profession, which developed a report and 10 recommendations.

“If we want to ensure our students receive a world-class education and graduate college/career-ready, we cannot ignore the importance of teacher preparation,” said Commissioner Holliday. “With the new Kentucky Core Academic Standards in English, mathematics and science, we’re expecting more of our students and teachers, so it is imperative we prepare our teachers to model and develop in students the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively, solve real world problems, collaborate, and take ownership of their own learning.”

Kentucky and the six other states – Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Washington – are joined by 17 national organizations committed to support the states’ efforts to accelerate change in educator preparation and entry into the profession.

“It is no surprise that Kentucky was selected to participate in this pilot,” said Education Professional Standards Board Executive Director Robert Brown. “The objectives of the recommendations established by the CCSSO help guide transformations currently underway in Kentucky, as well as building upon recent initiatives to improve every aspect of educator preparation in the Commonwealth.”

CCSSO released “Our Responsibility, Our Promise –Transforming Educator Preparation and Entry into the Profession” in December 2012. The report was developed collaboratively by state education chiefs and representatives of the National Governor’s Association and the National Association of State Boards of Education to identify key areas they can change to ensure every teacher and principal is ready on day one to help all students meet raised expectations.

“States across the nation have raised expectations for students and that means that we have a responsibility to ensure that educators are prepared to help all students graduate ready for careers, college and lifelong learning,” said Chris Minnich, CCSSO executive director. “These seven states are among those on the leading edge of making substantive changes in the policy and practice of educator preparation. These states aren’t taking a piecemeal approach; rather they are creating a coherent system by addressing three key policy areas that shape this work.”

The full CCSSO report is available at http://programs.ccsso.org/link/OurResponsibilityOurPromise.pdf