RFTEN Partners




National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for colleges and universities that prepare teachers and other professional personnel for work in elementary and secondary schools. Through its voluntary, peer review process, NCATE ensures that accredited institutions produce competent, caring, and qualified teachers and other professional school personnel who can help all students learn. NCATE, a non-profit, non-governmental organization, is a coalition of more than 30 national associations representing the education profession at large. The associations that comprise NCATE appoint representatives to NCATE's policy boards, which develop NCATE standards, policies, and procedures. Membership on policy boards includes representatives from organizations of (1) teacher educators, (2) teachers, (3) state and local policymakers, and (4) professional specialists.




Vaughn Gross Center for Reading and Language Arts (VGCRLA) provides leadership to educators in the implementation of effective reading instructional practices through research and professional development. The Center began in 1996 with funding from the Texas Education Agency to support the Texas Student Success Initiative. Center projects focused on enhancing the knowledge, skills, and practices of Texas educators in implementing the state curriculum standards - the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - in reading and language arts. Located on The University of Texas at Austin campus, the Center benefits from the support of the UT College of Education.
The Center has steadily diversified its resources to include state, national, and private funding for a variety of projects, including the development of internationally recognized professional development products and resources. This diversity enables the Center to broaden its focus beyond Texas to contribute to the efforts of national researchers and educators who are working to fulfill the goal of the No Child Left Behind Act: to enable all children to read on grade level or higher by the end of third grade and throughout their schooling.




National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) conducts and supports laboratory research, clinical trials, and studies with people that explore health processes. NICHD researchers examine growth and development, biologic and reproductive functions, behavior patterns, and population dynamics to protect and maintain the health of all people.
The NICHD examines the impact of disabilities, diseases, and defects on the lives of individuals. With this information, the NICHD hopes to restore, increase, and maximize the capabilities of people affected by disease and injury.