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The NACCTEP Community College Track at AACTE 2027 will highlight the essential role community colleges play in preparing and strengthening the educator workforce. This dedicated Friday track on February 26, 2027 will feature practical, engaging sessions focused on programs, partnerships, pathways, research, and strategies that are directly relevant to community college educator preparation. It creates a national space for community college leaders, faculty, partners, and researchers to share their work, learn from one another, and contribute to the broader conversation about the future of educator preparation.
Call for proposals opens September 1, 2026 and closes on September 30, 2026.
Eligibility and Conditions
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AACTE and NACCTEP members and nonmembers are welcome to submit, subject to AACTE's final eligibility rules.
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Submissions must be complete by September 30 at midnight PST. NACCTEP will not review late or incomplete proposals unless leadership approves a documented exception.
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Presenters must follow AACTE registration, travel, accessibility, technology, and presentation requirements.
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Acceptance remains conditional until the AACTE overlap review is complete.
Proposal Review and Selection
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Blind peer review October 5th - 9th.
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AACTE overlap review October 14th-16th.
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Final decision October 19th - 23rd.
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Notification and confirmation October 26th.
All dates after the October selection period remain dependent on AACTE's final program, registration, production, and venue deadlines.
FAQs
NACCTEP Community College Track Timeline and Proposal Framework
For more information, please contact us at nacctep@riosalado.org.
Community College Leadership and Workforce Development
Proposals focused on the leadership role of community colleges in preparing and supporting the educator workforce. Topics might include workforce planning, teacher recruitment and retention, leadership development, faculty development, workforce diversification, regional needs, and community college responses to educator shortages.
Teacher Preparation Pathways, Partnerships and Access
Proposals examining accessible and affordable routes into the education profession. Topics might include transfer pathways, community college bachelor’s degrees, teacher residencies, registered apprenticeships, grow-your-own programs, paraeducator-to-teacher pathways, dual enrollment, credit for prior learning, and supports for first-generation and nontraditional teacher candidates.
Clinical Practice and Strategic Partnerships
Proposals focused on field experiences, clinical preparation, and partnerships that strengthen educator preparation. Topics might include student teaching, residencies, mentorship, co-teaching, work-based learning, and partnerships with P–12 schools, universities, employers, state agencies, families, and community organizations.
Teaching, Learning, and Specialized Preparation
Proposals centered on curriculum, instruction, and educator preparation to serve diverse students, settings, and communities. Topics might include literacy, STEM and STEAM, science of reading, mathematics, special education, multilingual and bilingual education, culturally responsive teaching, early childhood education, rural education, and place-based preparation.
Policy, Advocacy, and Institutional Recognition
Proposals addressing policies and systems that shape community college educator preparation. Topics might include accreditation, accountability, funding, legislation, licensure, state authorization, advocacy, public policy, data reporting, and strategies to increase recognition of community colleges' contributions to the teacher workforce.
Research, Impact, and Continuous Improvement
Proposals presenting research, evaluation findings, implementation lessons, or evidence of program impact. Topics might include candidate outcomes, P–12 student impact, program evaluation, continuous improvement, data use, implementation research, partnership evaluation, and practice-informed studies related to community college educator preparation.
Innovation, Technology, and Educator Support
Proposals exploring new approaches, tools, and support systems for teacher candidates and practicing educators. Topics might include artificial intelligence, educational technology, online and hybrid learning, digital access, competency-based preparation, candidate advising, mental health, educator well-being, and practices that support persistence and long-term success in the profession.