The University of Arkansas' Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program is a dynamic research based program developed through the cooperation of university faculty and representative public school teachers and administrators. The MAT is a comprehensive, collaborative teacher education program based on a Scholar-Practitioner Model that involves extensive field experiences connected to all education courses and an intensive yearlong internship during the students' fifth year. The new teacher education program partners university faculty with public school educators to enhance the knowledge and skills of the prospective teachers and the continued professional development of the university and public school faculty. While our focus primarily has been on the preparation of public school teachers, we do so with the clear view in mind of enhancing the learning of the children they will serve