Two representatives of Capella University, an accredited online university, appointed to the Minnesota Department of Education's

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John Melick and Catherine Pulkinen are with the online university's School of Education

MINNEAPOLIS, October 21, 2011– Two representatives ofCapella University(http://www.capella.edu), anaccredited online university

*that has built its reputation by providing high-qualityonline degree programsfor working adults, have been appointed to the Minnesota Department of Education's Tiered Licensure Task Force. John Melick, Capella's associate director of field experience and strategic partnerships, and Catherine Pulkinen, EdD, a core faculty member with Capella's School of Education, were appointed by Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. As members of the 18-member task force, which was created by legislation passed during Minnesota's 2011 special session, they are charged with helping develop policy recommendations to implement a tiered teacher licensure system in Minnesota.

"The membership of this panel is comprised of education leaders committed to supporting the professional craft of teaching and improving the quality of education that each Minnesota child receives," Cassellius said in a press release sent out by the Minnesota Department of Education. "I look forward to their recommendations as we continue striving to provide a world class education to every Minnesota student."

Specifically, the task force will be responsible for evaluating:

• Appropriate research-based professional competencies that include content skills, adaptive expertise, college-readiness preparation, multicultural skills, use of student performance data, and skills for fostering citizenship, among other competencies that improve all students' learning outcomes.
• Ongoing teacher professional growth to enable teachers to develop multiple professional competencies.
• An assessment system for evaluating teachers' performance that is aligned with student expectations and value-added measures of student outcomes and includes an emphasis on developing students' reading and literacy skills, among other measures and outcomes, and recognizes and rewards successful teachers.
• An expectation that teachers progress through various states of teaching practice throughout their teaching careers and receive opportunities for leadership roles commensurate with their practice and competency.
• A periodic evaluation of the licensing structure to determine its effectiveness in meeting students' learning needs.

As of June 30, 2011, more than 38,000 students are pursuing an online degree at Capella,with 31 percent enrolled in Capella'sdoctoral degree programs, and 47 percent enrolled in Capella's

target="_blank">master's degree programs

About Capella University

Capella University (www.capella.edu) is an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing quality online degree programs for working adults. Nearly 80 percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master's, specialist, or doctoral degree programs in business, counseling, education, health administration, homeland security, human resource management, human services, information technology, nonprofit management and leadership, nursing, psychology, public administration, public health, public safety, and social work. Capella also offers bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, nursing, psychology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 135 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 17 certificate programs. More than 38,000 students were enrolled as of June 30, 2011, from all 50 states and 59 other countries. Capella is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Founded in 1993, Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visithttp://www.capella.eduor call 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552).

Visit the CapellaFacebookpage athttp://www.facebook.com/CapellaUniversity.
Follow Capella onTwitterathttp://twitter.com/CapellaU.

* Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA),www.ncahlc.org.
Capella University, Capella Tower, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552),www.capella.edu.

Learn more about earning an online degree:

• online education (http://www.capella.edu/online_education.aspx)

• online degree (http://www.capella.edu)

• accredited online university (http://www.capella.edu/about_capella/accreditation.aspx)

• target="_blank">online college (http://www.capella.edu/online_college_degree_programs.aspx)

News Source : Two representatives of Capella University, an accredited online university, appointed to the Minnesota Department of Education's Tiered Licensure Task Force