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National Assessment Reflects Solid Preparation for Future Teachers

Published: April 13, 2021

National Assessment Reflects Solid Preparation for Future TeachersThe credentials and employability of GC students preparing to be teachers have received a boost with a new state requirement.

To secure a license to teach in Illinois, students must now pass the edTPA, a national performance-based teacher assessment that evaluates readiness to teach.

While more than 600 teacher education programs nationwide use the tool, Illinois is one of only a few states that issues teachers licenses based edTPA results.

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) recently featured an article linking edTPA credentials to a competitive edge for job seekers.

Good News for GC

Since the requirement was instituted last year, all of the teacher education students at GC who have taken the assessment have passed it.

Dean of GCs School of Education Mark Lamb explains that the edTPA reflects increased emphasis on accountability in education. The State of Illinois began requiring the assessment in 2015. Lamb and his team had spent more than two years adjusting programing to equip students for the skill test.

There was a level of angst in the School of Education as we waited to see how our students would do on the new assessment, Lamb recalled of the first group of students to test. They all passed.

High Stakes Show and Tell

Students complete the assessment during the semester in which they student teach. As part of the process, they must demonstrate skills in:

  • planning and delivering lessons,
  • assessing pupil performance, and
  • assessing their own performance as instructors.

Our students have done a nice job of adapting to [the assessment], reports Lamb.

Last year, the first year under the new requirement, all 53 of GCs teacher education students passed the assessment. So far this year, all of the students who completed the assessment to date have also passed. "The School of Education is excited to see our students continue to show well on this assessment," said Lamb.

Making the Most of Results

The School of Education uses the data gathered from the edTPA to inform decisions about improvements in its teacher education program. Lamb believes the improvements implemented thus far have contributed to the outstanding teacher readiness GC students demonstrate.

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