Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 9, 2001 Purdue School of Education students make the gradeWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's School of Education announced today (Monday, 4/9) that 430 of 444 teacher education students passed the Indiana-required teaching proficiency exams last school year. Those who passed were recommended for licensure in Indiana following the 1999-2000 school year. While the exams are not new, this is the first year colleges and universities were required to report student pass rates to the state. The series of tests measure basic skills, professional skills, teaching skills and content knowledge in each student's area of specialization. "When you consider the number of students who complete our teacher education programs each year, we are very pleased," said Marilyn Haring, dean of the School of Education. "Each student must pass each section of the tests, and our students always are prepared very well for these exams." Haring said unlike students in many other universities and colleges, Purdue students take the exam as seniors. "Many universities in the state do not allow their students to move through their education program unless they have passed all sections of the exam, usually during their sophomore or junior years," she said. "Our program is designed with the proficiency exams at the end of the program; therefore, all students who complete the curriculum are eligible to take the test and are included in Purdue's pass rate." While these test scores are an important measure for future teachers, Haring said the exam establishes a minimum competency rather than predicting how well someone will teach. She said focusing on performance-based assessment is a better method for evaluating how Purdue graduates will fare in the classroom. The Indiana Professional Standards Board has developed 300 standards based on knowledge of content and of developmental stages for K-12 students. In the future, teacher candidates must demonstrate they have met the standards by creating portfolios showcasing their mastery of skills needed in the classroom. "In addition to passing an exam, our students must gather tangible evidence that they are helping students learn and demonstrate they are capable of teaching content to young people," Haring said. The data released today are the first in a series of reports required by the Higher Education Act. Congress passed amendments to the act in 1988 requiring the testing process for federal grant programs designed to support states, institutions of higher education and their school district partners. The act is intended to improve the recruitment, preparation and support of new teachers. The legislation also includes accountability measures requiring states, colleges and universities to report on teacher preparation and licensing. The Indiana Professional Standards Board will release comparison data for all Indiana educational institutions in October. The U.S. Department of Education will make a nationwide report to Congress and the public next April. These reports will be made annually. Purdue's School of Education began as the Department of Education in 1908. It now offers bachelor's degrees in elementary, social studies and special education. The departments of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Studies also offer graduate-level courses and degrees. The school serves more than 2,500 students with more than 70 faculty members. Source: Marilyn Haring, (765) 494-2336, haringm@purdue.edu Writer: Jenny Pratt, (765) 494-2079, jmpratt@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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