Dear Colleague Letter

Dear Colleague:

Welcome to Title II national information collection on initial teaching quality and preparation authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended in 2008 by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEA). For the past eight years, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) has collected data on teacher quality and preparation from states and institutions of higher education (IHE) across the nation. The Secretary uses the information collected to prepare annual reports to the Congress. Previous Title II Reports on Teacher Quality can be found at https://title2.ed.gov/default.asp.

In August 2008, Congress demonstrated its continuing interest in the quality of teacher preparation through the passage of HEA. Much has changed since the Department began collecting national information on teacher quality. Key changes that HEA made include reporting more information on alternative routes to teacher certification or licensure and increased data collection on the characteristics of students enrolled in those programs. Every IHE that conducts a traditional teacher education program or alternative route to certification or licensure program, and that enrolls students who receive Federal assistance under the HEA is required to report to the state annually (Title II, HEOA, Section 205(a)(1)). In addition, teacher education programs that are unaffiliated with an IHE, although not compelled by the HEA to report to the state, are urged to do so, since states are required to report to the Department on all teacher preparation programs in the state (cf. Title II, HEA, Section 205(b)(1)). This information collection will ensure that the Department’s national database on teacher preparation provided by the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the outlying areas will remain current.

The Department provides a Web-based standard form for state reporting, which is available through the State Reporting System Web site at https://title2.ed.gov. The Title II Web site contains the forms you will need to report your information, instructions for completing the forms, and additional information that you will need to complete the report. States are required to use the Web-based forms in providing their reports to the Secretary. The information being requested through the forms is not of a sensitive nature, but it is required, not voluntary. All information will be handled in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws, including privacy laws. The system was developed to be as simple and clear as possible for the user.

If you have questions about these or any other program requirements, please call the HEOA Title II hotline at (877) 684-8532 or send an e-mail to https://title2.ed.gov. We look forward to receiving your reports and working with you to accomplish an accurate and complete information collection this year.

Sincerely,

_____________________

Dan Madzelan

Delegated the Authority to Perform

The functions and Duties of the

Assistant Secretary for

Postsecondary Education