Purdue University Calumet’s School of Education has received continued accreditation through 2015 for its undergraduate and master’s degree teacher preparation programs.

The decision by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and its Unit Accreditation Board indicates that Purdue Calumet teacher education programs offer compelling evidence of an ability to develop student competence through knowledge and classroom skills.

“NCATE accreditation means that we have satisfied rigorous standards embraced by the professional education community,” Purdue Calumet Dean of the School of Education Robert Rivers said.

Rivers added that this marks the first time the advanced level (graduate) professional education programs have received accreditation at Purdue Calumet. Previously, graduate programs had been accredited through the Purdue University College of Education at West Lafayette.

“Four years ago, we initiated a standards-based framework and assessment system for each graduate program for school professionals at our Hammond campus,” he said. “This means that we have tailored the School of Education’s advanced programs to the mission and core standards of the School, making these programs more responsive to the educational quality needs of northwest Indiana.”

NCATE accredits the teacher education programs of nearly 625 colleges and universities, which produce some two-thirds of the nation’s new teacher graduates annually.

NCATE-accredited programs require that teacher education candidates’ qualifications be assessed upon enrollment and continually thereafter during enrollment, including prior to student teaching and internship activity.