Abstract:

My presentation will be about the Center for Urban Education at Metropolitan State College of Denver and how this program helps prepare pre-service teachers to work in urban schools helping minority students and students of color do better academically and socially. The Center for Urban Education (CUE) at Metropolitan State College of Denver embraces a unique, holistic strategy for educating children. This strategy centers on combining the services, resources and dedication of school, community and college partners to ensure that children in geographically defined, high poverty urban areas will thrive academically. Our goal is that urban children will not only become successful learners, but that they will also develop into community leaders beginning with quality early learning through college and into jobs. The CUE strategy is grounded on an urban-focused teacher preparation program that also extends to induction and on-going professional development as a means for increasing the achievement levels of children in urban high-needs areas.CUE is committed to helping ensure the most effective teachers enter urban preschools, elementary schools, secondary schools and colleges. Currently, a new model is being piloted in a specially designated region of Northwest Denver and will expand and grow to other communities as our successes mount.

Metro State students who participate in the CUE program undertake an immersion in the culture of the urban communities they serve. They complete urban-centered curricula focused on identified requirements for successful teaching in high-need schools. The program is a two-year preparation residency program. We offer teacher education classes taught on-site in partner schools. The curriculum for these courses have been customized to focus on specific issues in urban education.

The CUE in partnership with Denver Public Schools has developed several initiatives:

• Tutoring; Scholarships; Teachers of Color Pipeline: The aim of this program is to increase the number and percentage of teachers of color entering the teaching field and prepared to successfully guide the educational achievement of 1st generation, children of color attending high needs urban schools; CUE organizes and supports (in collaboration with Metro State Student Enrollment Services) customized campus tours for groups of students from CUE partner schools (elementary, middle and high school);Writing Centers at different high schools in collaboration with Metro faculty.

• Early Childhood Education pre-service students host an annual science fair for Colfax Elementary School children and their parents to help them learn about fun and interactive science activities that they can do at home.

• Urban Computing Collaborative – Metro State computer science and mathematics professors and CEC Middle College teachers co-teach a computer gaming class to engage CEC high school students in using technology to support their learning and build students’ knowledge and skills in computer programming.

The presenter will present this information and additional details about how the CUE, through different programs, prepares effective urban teachers and makes possible high quality education for kids in high needs schools.

Keywords:

Teacher Preparation, Urban Education, Partnership, Collaboration.