NCATE's Executive Board has clarified its definition of 'professional dispositions' as used within the NCATE accreditation system, and has issued a call to action to ensure that all children are taught by well prepared teachers.

NCATE has given particular attention to clarifying its expectations concerning "professional dispositions" in its definition of "dispositions" which had listed "social justice" as one illustrative example of a professional disposition, among others such as fairness and honesty. NCATE has never required a 'social justice' disposition; NCATE expects institutions to select professional dispositions they would like to see in the teachers they prepare. The term 'social justice,' though well understood by NCATE's institutions, was widely and wildly misinterpreted by commentators not familiar with the workings of NCATE. NCATE has never had a 'social justice' standard and thus did not enforce such a standard. When a draft of the 2008 Standards did not include the example of "social justice" in the glossary definition, NCATE was incorrectly accused by some of caving into pressure to eliminate a standard that it never had, and by others of abandoning its commitment to that non-existent standard. The glossary change was made in order to clarify for all what NCATE's expectations are and are not.

NCATE now defines Professional Dispositions as:
Professional attitudes, values, and beliefs demonstrated through both verbal and non-verbal behaviors as educators interact with students, families, colleagues, and communities. These positive behaviors support student learning and development.

NCATE expects institutions to assess professional dispositions based on observable behaviors in educational settings . The two professional dispositions that NCATE expects institutions to assess are fairness and the belief that all students can learn. Based on their mission and conceptual framework, professional education units can identify, define, and operationalize additional professional dispositions.  For additional information, see http://www.ncate.org/public/102407.asp?ch=148