(ALBANY N.Y. – July 29, 2013) New York State United Teachers’ Education and Learning Trust and SUNY Empire State College today announced the formation of a partnership that will result in positive learning outcomes for students and increase student achievement by providing educators with sound practices and research-based methods, particularly those that can be immediately applied in classrooms.

The partnership enables NYSUT members to receive graduate credit applicable to Empire State College’s new online Master of Education in Teaching and Learning: Principles and Pedagogy.

"We are very excited to offer our members this new opportunity for professional growth,” said NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira. “Since its inception more than 30 years ago, NYSUT's ELT has been committed to delivering the highest-quality professional development to our members, and this new partnership with Empire State College helps us continue that tradition.”

"We are thrilled to be working so closely with NYSUT’s strong professional development program and to be able to offer the M.Ed., which will allow teachers and other educators to deepen their expertise in areas that are relevant to student success," said Tai Arnold, acting dean of Empire State College’s School for Graduate Studies. "Working closely in partnership with New York state’s teachers, who make such a positive difference in the lives of school children, is important to the college as it ensures we are producing professional educators and teachers of the highest quality and thereby ensuring student success.”

SUNY Empire State College, a national and international leader in online education and prior learning assessment, has evaluated professional development courses created and delivered by NYSUT for its members and will grant up to 9 graduate credits toward the 36-credit M.Ed. program.

The M.Ed. Program:

• enables teachers and other education professionals to advance as leaders and innovators
• provides educators with a foundation for career-long growth as reflective practitioners with concerns for equity and social justice
• further develops professional skills in the application of current theories and research to their teaching.

Making the program available entirely online provides access to the degree for teachers and educators at remote locations of the state who may not have the ways and means to attend regular face-to-face meetings.

Further, online delivery provides nontraditional and adult students with the flexibility to learn at a time and place that meets the needs of the learner.

Teachers may use the M.Ed. to satisfy the requirement that K-12 teachers complete a master's degree as part of the requirements for professional certification. Students will be able to pursue such certification independently after completion of the M.Ed. Initial teacher certification can be attained through the college's Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.

About NYSUT ELT

The NYSUT Education and Learning Trust (ELT) is a nonprofit professional development organization serving NYSUT members who have dedicated their lives to education. Available for all teachers and school-related professionals, ELT programs are modeled on best practices, current research-based strategies and classroom application. ELT instructors are the best in their profession. Union leaders, school district officials and Teacher Center directors have come to depend upon ELT's dynamic instructors over the past 30 years for professional development of the highest quality. Its application-based model and adherence to the principle of "members teaching members" contributes to the success of its offerings.

About SUNY Empire State College

SUNY Empire State College was established in 1971 to offer adult learners the opportunity to earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York.

In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career. Students engage in guided independent study and course work onsite, online or a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to learn at the time, place and pace they choose.

The college serves more than 20,000 students worldwide at more than 35 locations in the state of New York and online. Its 70,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more. More information about the college is available here.

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Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications

518-587-2100, ext. 2918

David.Henahan@esc.edu

518-321-7038 (after hours and on weekends)