The North Carolina Teacher Cadet Program was founded by the NCAE and is funded by the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children. It is an innovative year-long or semester-block activity-based curriculum for high school juniors and seniors. The course is designed to promote a better understanding

and create interest in those students who may consider teaching as a profession. It is an honors-type program that details many components of the education environment and involves students in content, application, observations and teaching in preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school settings.

Based on a 2006 Survey of 1,211 North Carolina public school teachers, the IMPACT of the Teacher Cadet Program has shown:

25%+ who were Teacher Cadets in high school became a Teaching Fellow

31%+ who were Teacher Cadets in high school received a teaching scholarship of some kind (Teaching Fellow, PTSL, etc.)

Of the respondents who took the Teacher Cadet course, 85% say that the program was "the biggest factor in their decision to become a teacher."

Along with related activities and portfolios, the course covers five units of study:

1. •THE LEARNER
   

2. •THE TEACHER AND TRAINING
   

3. •HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
   

4. •SPECIAL EDUCATION
   

5. •THE REAL THING / FIELD EXPERIENCE
   

6. •THE SCHOOL