The teacher education program at Southeast Missouri State University has been cited as a national model, according to a report by a commission of state college and university presidents.

The report, titled Teach America and released by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) late last month, is an agenda for college and university presidents to improve the teacher education programs on their campuses.

Teach America calls for the restructuring of teacher preparation programs on state college campuses and is designed to prepare teachers for the model schools called for in the Bush Administration's "America 2000" plan and in the president's six national education goals.

Southeast, one of 20 institutions with model programs listed in the report, is cited for its innovative curricular development.

The report applauds Southeast for redesigning its bachelor of science degree in elementary education and for involving a University Studies Program that provides students with a strong liberal education and specialized studies for elementary teachers.

The report also commends the program for organizing a professional education component into four carefully sequenced "blocks" and for coordinating course work with carefully selected field experiences that help students successfully perform on the Missouri Performance Based Teacher Evaluation.

Three other institutions are cited for their innovative curricular development. They are Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Northern Arizona University and San Diego State University.

"I am so proud that Southeast Missouri State University is mentioned as a model for teacher education programs in the nation," said Kala Stroup, Southeast's president, in discussing the report with the university's Board of Regents Thursday.

"This is another feather in the program's cap in addition to the recognition it has received with AASCU's Christa McAuliffe Showcase for Excellence Award."

That award recognized outstanding initiatives in teacher education programs at state colleges and universities.

Teach America was presented by AASCU's 16-member Presidents' Commission on Teacher Education at AASCU's annual meeting Nov. 24-26 in San Antonio, Texas, by commission spokesperson Ed M. Elliott. Elliott is president of Central Missouri State University.

Written by presidents for their colleagues, this blueprint for reform calls for presidents to take the lead in ensuring that teacher preparation programs define and educate the kind of teachers needed for the 21st century. It also supports massive retraining programs for current teachers and administrators.

AASCU President James B. Appleberry said that discussions among local school officials in response to the Bush Administration's "American 2000" initiative have the potential for radically changing the nation's schools.

Teach America's five-point agenda calls for college presidents to act now to ensure high priority and visibility for teacher education programs; promote and ensure total quality teacher education; connect teacher education to the K-12 schools and their communities; promote diversity in the teaching profession; and recognize their leadership role in responding to the challenge of "America 2000" and the National Education Goals.

The commission began working on the agenda in March. The agenda emerged from a review of education reform literature and discussions with leading educators, U.S. Education Department staff, heads of teacher education associations, National Governors' Association representatives, corporate leaders, schools and participants in the national "America 2000" conference and the annual Deans' Conference of the Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities.

Commission Chairman Robert Glennen, president of Emporia State University in Kansas, said AASCU took on the task because its member institutions have historically fulfilled a crucial role in teacher preparation. Many began as teachers colleges and are still the chief educators of the nation's teachers, graduating over 50 percent of the nation's educators. The plan outlines action plans to accomplish the five-point agenda.

AASCU is a Washington-based higher education association representing more than 375 state colleges and universities and more than 30 systems of higher education nationwide.