College of Education and Health Professions Earns National Recognition for Preparing Future Teachers

The College of Education and Health Professions' undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program recently earned an "A" from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for how well it equips future educators to teach reading to elementary students.

The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, spotlights the U of A's program for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective reading instruction methods. According to a press release from the NCTQ, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.

A child's ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life, yet according to NAEP data, four in 10 fourth graders in Arkansas cannot read at a basic level, the release noted. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that — but only if it is aligned with research-based instructional methods proven to help most students become successful readers.

"Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed," said NCTQ President Heather Peske in the release. "Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but the University of Arkansas is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like."

The College of Education and Health Professions' work aligns with the state's focus on K-12 literacy as part of the Arkansas LEARNS Act. The "L" in LEARNS stands for literacy, and the state has been ensuring that all K-12 students have access to quality literacy instruction and high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) grounded in the Science of Reading, taught by an educator who has been trained using HQIM materials and evidence-based literacy practices.

Dean Kate Mamiseishvili said the NCTQ's A grade reflects the hard work of the college's Department of Curriculum and Instruction. "I am proud of and inspired by our teacher education faculty and their unwavering dedication to ensuring that our students are equipped with research-based instructional tools to help young readers develop strong literacy skills," she said. "It's great to have NCTQ recognize the commitment that allows us to be part of the solution for, and to serve, Arkansas."

NCTQ's methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates and measurement experts. To evaluate the quality of preparation being provided, a team of experts at NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates at the U of A, the release states. 

To earn an A, programs needed to demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods unsupported by research on effective reading instruction. 

"We were excited to share news about this A grade with our faculty, who are devoted to ensuring our teacher candidates are well prepared to create the best outcomes in reading for their future students," said Suzanne Kucharczyk, head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. "It's wonderful to have those efforts recognized."