Teacher programs receive state approval

Monroe Community College has received approval from the New York State Education Department (SED) and the State University of New York to offer associate degrees in early childhood, childhood and adolescence teacher education.

Students can register this spring for fall courses in the teacher education program. MCC has offered four core education courses and a teacher preparation sequence within its liberal arts degree for over a year. More than 700 students were enrolled in the teacher education sequence during the fall 2004 semester. Now, with state approval, students can earn a degree in teacher education.

"This approval opens up the opportunity for MCC students to begin, right from the start of their college education, in a degree program that supports them in becoming the best possible teachers for our community," said Janet Glocker, vice president, MCC Academic Services.

The U.S. Department of Education forecasted a need for early childhood teachers in 2000-02 in the western region of New York. SED found, according to an April 2000 report, a need for teachers in natural sciences, mathematics, special education and early childhood education. In a typical school year, some 22,000 public school teachers are hired in New York, according to SED.