CSULB/Cerritos
College Teacher TRAC Program Receives Generous Grant from the U.S.
Department of Education
For
Immediate Release: June 29, 2000
NORWALK, CALIF
– California State University, Long Beach and
Cerritos College were awarded a $1,291,821 PT3 grant over a period of four
years to “implement specific teacher preparation improvements, ” by the
U.S. Department of Education. Of this, approximately $150,000 will come
directly to Cerritos College. Across the nation 127 colleges and
universities were awarded the PT3 grant, as part of the Preparing
Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology program. These grants will support
teacher preparation improvements in virtually every state and region
across the country, with a focus on improving the use of technology in
teaching in low-income communities and rural areas, and among minority
groups and special populations.
Just over a year ago, CSULB and
Cerritos began a partnership, which launched the Teacher TRaining ACademy
(Teacher TRAC) at Cerritos College. Teacher TRAC gives future K-8 teachers
an opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree and multi-subject
teaching credential in four calendar years. A special feature of Teacher
TRAC is educational technology courses that help to enhance a K-8
teacher’s ability and technology-proficiency in the classroom.
Preparing technology-proficient educators to meet the needs of
21st century learners has emerged as a critical challenge
facing teacher preparation programs across the country. Federal, state and
local agencies are investing billions of dollars to equip schools with
computers and modern communications networks. “In recognition of the
urgent need for technology-proficient educators, the Preparing Tomorrow’s
Teachers to Use Technology, (PT3), initiative awarded 75 million dollars
in grants to support the transformation of teacher preparation programs
into 21st century learning environments,” commented PT3
Director Tom Carroll.
Funded under the PT3 grant
programs, the 127 grantees are joining forces with more than 900 partners
across the country, including colleges and universities, elementary and
secondary schools, community based organizations, and technology
companies. “It is essential for
grantees at these various levels to collaborate, with each other and with
the field of teacher preparation programs at large, to build strong
strategies for improving the technology proficiency of future teachers,”
added Carroll.
According to U.S. Secretary of
Education Richard W. Riley, “Well-prepared teachers are the most valuable
resource a community can provide to its young people and the greatest need
for technology-proficient educators is among the low-income communities
and rural areas still combating a digital divide,” he noted. “These grants
aim to ensure that classrooms are staffed with teachers who can help
students use these powerful learning tools to succeed in school and
prepare for careers in the 21st century.”
Cerritos College and CSULB are
excited to receive this grant for the continued development and success of
their partnership. “Receiving the PT3 grant from the Department of
Education will allow us to enhance our Teacher TRAC program to produce
teachers with an excellent background in educational technology,”
commented PT3 grant Director and Co-director of Teacher TRAC Professor Cheryl Shimazu. “Our Teacher TRAC faculty
will be able to model a technology rich curriculum for our students, and
we hope that our future educators will become teachers who use technology
in their classrooms as easily as they use chalk and a chalkboard.”
For more information about the
Cerritos College Teacher TRAC program, visit the web site at http://216.32.180.250/.
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