The Impact of Market Driven Higher Education Practices on Professional Teacher Development

Abstract

In this paper we describe the growth of private sector involvement in the delivery of postsecondary education, the potential impact of this growth on mainstream IHEs, and the impact of these changes on the development of general and special education teachers. It is our contention that the proliferation and effects of for-profit, convenience-type approaches to postsecondary education run counter to efforts aimed at the improvement and reform of teacher preparation and professional development. In fact, we believe that the movement toward a more corporate approach to activities and governance in the higher education community is antithetical if not hostile to the agenda of teacher education reform. As part of this initial TESE Associate Editor's exchange, we invite comment on this critical issue.