SHSU Teacher Preparation Program Certified

In addition, Sam Sullivan, professor of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and Applied Science, was appointed to head an advisory or "oversight" team for one university which was not fully accredited.

The board issued its rankings Nov. 12 of universities, education service centers, and school districts that prepare teachers to work in Texas public schools. The accountability system is in its fourth year, and is the only such program in the nation.

For the 2000-2001 school year, 75 of the 86 teacher preparation programs that received a rating based on candidate test performance were "Accredited." Eleven programs were rated "Accredited--Under Review." Two of these 11 programs are under review for the second year and one is under review for the third year.

Ratings of each program are determined by the performance of the program's candidates on the assessments required for certification. These assessments evaluate knowledge of subject matter and teaching skill proficiency.

The percentage of students passing certification exams for the first time, called "first year pass rate," and for those re-taking the test the subsequent year, called "cumulative pass rate," determine accreditation status. Requirements are also set for sub-groups, which include female, male, African-American, Hispanic, other, and white.

In order to be accredited, programs had to achieve a 70 percent first year pass rate and 80 percent cumulative pass rate. Sam Houston State's figures were 88.54 percent first year pass rate and 93.57 percent cumulative pass rate.

Eren Johnson, associate dean of education, said that administrators and faculty were pleased with the scores, although "we'd love to have 100 percent of the students pass the test."

If a program is rated "Accredited-Under Review," the State Board of Educator Certification appoints a team of experienced educators to work with the program to improve its performance. That was the assignment given to Sullivan, who will head a group which will work with the educator certification program at Texas Southern University.

It is not the first such assignment for Sullivan, who worked with the Texas Southern program last year and the Stephen F. Austin State University program two years ago. The SFA program was accredited this year.

College and university programs also under review this year include Jarvis Christian College, Southwestern Adventist University, Texas A&M International University (Laredo), University of Houston (Clear Lake), University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Texas-Permian Basin, and Wiley College.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Nov. 16, 2001
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