Despite allegations against him, Jackson State asks Southern University's former chancellor to correct its teacher certification woes

Jackson, Miss.
A state commission's recommendation last month could mean graduating students from Jackson State University's teacher education programs would be ineligible for licenses.

But the new interim dean of the university's School of Education, who has critics of his own, says he is at Jackson State to ensure that the historically Black institution's teacher training program doesn't lose its certification.

"I'm here to take corrective action to focus the School of Education so we don't lose our certification," said Dr. Marvin Yates, the former chancellor of Southern University. "I'm not just here to make a dollar. I'm here to make a contribution. I'm very knowledgeable about this whole business."

JSU's School of Education will need whatever positive contributions Yates can make. Members of the Mississippi commission overseeing teacher certification and licensure said the university must correct longstanding deficiencies with the programs or face prolonged sanctions.

Fewer than 90 percent of the university's graduates passed the professional knowledge and specialty areas of the National Teacher Examination (NTE) from 1995 to 1997. And that three-year trend is unacceptable, said members of the Mississippi Commission on Teacher and Administrator Certification and Licensure.

Reports show 75 percent of fifty-one Jackson State students passed the professional knowledge portion of the NTE in 1995; 71 percent of forty-five students passed the specialty portion of the test.

In 1996, 91 percent of forty-three JSU students passed the professional knowledge portion, 86 percent of forty-seven students passed the specialty area.

In 1997, 85 percent of thirty-five students passed the professional knowledge part, and 75 percent of thirty-six students passed the specialty area of the NTE -- which is being phased out for another testing program.