Educating Preservice Teachers: The State of Affairs
Testing and Licensure in NCREL's Region
Teacher testing is gaining widespread attention within NCREL's region, especially in Illinois. Recently, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation revealed that 5,243 Illinois teachers, some of whom are currently teaching, failed at least one certification test (Rossi, Beaupre, and Grossman, 2001). Certification testing includes a basic-skills test and a subject-area test. Based on the results of the Chicago Sun-Times investigation, it seems evident that more attention needs to be focused on teacher testing to determine who is failing the tests and whether the failure is linked to the quality of the tests and student achievement.
Supporting this premise, the American Federation of Teachers (2000a) also investigated teacher testing and found that "individual states and institutions generally set very low cutoff scores for demonstration of mastery" (p. 20). Within NCREL's seven-state region, there is a variety of testing requirements and cut-off scores for teacher candidates. The following is a synopsis of those requirements and scores by individual state.
Illinois
The Illinois State Board of Education requires every preservice teacher to take the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Basic Skills test before licensure. Preservice teachers are required to receive a passing score of 240 out of 300. Candidates in elementary education must also take the K-9 Elementary test. This test covers language arts, math and science, social studies, health, physical education, fine arts, and professional knowledge. Preservice teachers must receive a score of 70 out of 100 to pass (P. Wieke, personal communication, November 20, 2000).
Besides taking the Basic Skills test, secondary preservice teachers specializing in English language arts also must take the English subject-area test. This test covers writing, reading, language, listening, speaking, assessment, and literature. As with the elementary test, a candidate must score at least 70 to pass.
Indiana
The Indiana Professional Standards Board requires all preservice teachers to complete the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST). This test is comprised of three sections: reading, writing, and math. The teachers are required to receive 176, 172, and 175, respectively, to pass the test. All teachers applying for elementary K-3, 1-6, and K-6 licenses are required to take the Praxis Reading Specialist Test (see Educational Testing Service, 2001). The test description says it is intended "for candidates with advanced preparation (i.e., those with a master's degree or coursework comparable to the training needed for a master's degree) who expect to have specialized responsibilities related to the teaching of reading at any level from kindergarten through twelfth grade" (Gitomer, Lathman, & Ziomek, 2001). The assessment tests teaching knowledge in the following content categories:
- Linguistic and cognitive bases of the reading process
- Comprehension
- Word identification
- Vocabulary development
- Methodologies
- Diagnosis and program improvement
The qualifying score is 370. According to the Indiana Professional Standards Board (2001), "This score was determined by the standard-setting activity and accounts for the fact that some portions of the Reading Specialist Test are not relevant to the beginning elementary teacher."
Candidates for teaching English at the middle and high school levels are required to take not only the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test but also the Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition Content Knowledge Test. The qualifying score for this test is 153. It assesses preservice teachers' knowledge of the following:
- American literature
- British literature
- Classical and word literature
- Analysis of poetry and prose
- Language and composition
Iowa
Beginning in the 2001-02 school year, Iowa is requiring Praxis II testing. Candidates preparing to teach elementary education are required to take the Praxis Elementary Education Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Test. This test assesses the following categories:
- Reading and language arts curriculum, instruction, and assessment
- Mathematics curriculum, instruction, and assessment
- Science curriculum, instruction, and assessment
- Social studies curriculum, instruction, and assessment
- Arts and physical education curriculum, instruction, and assessment
- General information about curriculum, instruction, and assessment
According to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (2001):
"There have been no validation studies conducted in Iowa through ETS to establish a "cut" score or minimum score. The legislation states that each prospective graduate must complete the content and pedagogy tests, but no minimum score must be attained."
Elementary education graduates also are required to take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching K-6 test. This test assesses the following content categories:
- Organizing content knowledge for student learning
- Creating an environment for student learning
- Teaching for student learning
- Teacher professionalism
Graduates of secondary English language arts programs must take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching 7-12 test, which assesses the same content categories as the K-6 version but includes issues specific to Grades 7-12. They also must also take the Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition Content Knowledge test, which assesses the following content categories:
- American literature
- British literature
- Classical and word literature
- Analysis of poetry and prose
- Language and composition
Michigan
Michigan requires all teacher candidates to take a basic skills test administered by the National Evaluation Systems. Elementary candidates also are also required to take an elementary exam, which assesses the following content categories:
- Social studies
- Math
- Science
- Physical education
- Health
- Language arts
Secondary candidates for teaching English language arts must complete an English subject-area test, which assesses the following content categories:
- Meaning and communication
- Literature and understanding
- Genre and craft of language
- Skills and processes
The qualifying score for each of the Michigan tests is 220.
Minnesota
Minnesota mandates that all teacher candidates take the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test and the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching Test, respective to their grade level. The Pre-Professional Skills Test is comprised of three sections: reading, writing, and math. The qualifying scores are 173 for reading, 172 for writing, and 169 for math.
Those taking the Principles of Learning Test for Grades K-6 must get a qualifying score of 152, and those taking it for Grades 7-12 need a qualifying score of 140. Elementary education candidates also are required to take the Praxis Elementary Education Content Knowledge Test, with a qualifying score of 140.
Candidates for teaching high school English language arts also are required to take the Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition Content Knowledge Test, which requires a qualifying score of 148.
Ohio
Ohio's testing system differs somewhat from that of the other states. The elementary category is divided into early childhood (Grades PreK-3) and middle childhood (Grades 5-9). Both groups take the Praxis Principles of Learning Test, but early childhood teachers take the Grades K-6 version and middle childhood teachers take the Grades 5-9 version. Both tests require a qualifying score of 168. Those candidates in early childhood who intend to teach elementary (Grades K-8 or Grades 1-8) also have to also take the Praxis Elementary Education Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Test, with a qualifying score of 162.
Candidates for teaching English under the Adolescence to Young Adult category are required to take not only the Principles of Learning Test for Grades 7-12 with a qualifying score of 165 but also the Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition Content Knowledge Test, with a qualifying score of 167.
Wisconsin
As of May 2001, Wisconsin requires all teacher candidates to take only the Pre-Professional Skills Test (K. Lind, personal communication, May 27, 2001). They must score 175 in reading, 174 in writing, and 173 in math.
The following table (Table 2) depicts specifications for teacher testing within NCREL's region.
Table 2. Teacher Testing in NCREL's Region
State |
Tests for Elementary |
Qualifying Scores |
Tests for Secondary English Language Arts |
Qualifying Scores |
Illinois |
Illinois Certification Testing System Basic Skills |
240 |
Illinois Certification Testing System Basic Skills |
240 |
K-9 Elementary |
70 |
English |
70 |
|
Indiana |
Praxis PPST |
|
Praxis PPST Reading Writing Math |
|
Praxis Reading Specialist |
370 |
Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge |
153 |
|
Iowa |
Praxis Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment |
No minimum score required |
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 |
No minimum score required |
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 |
No minimum score required |
Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge |
No minimum score required |
|
Michigan |
Basic Skills |
220 |
Basic Skills |
220 |
Elementary Education |
220 |
English/language arts |
220 |
|
Minnesota |
Praxis PPST |
|
Praxis PPST |
|
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 |
152 |
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 |
140 |
|
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge |
140 |
Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge |
148 |
|
Ohio |
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 |
168 |
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 |
165 |
Praxis Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment |
162 |
Praxis English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge |
167 |
|
Wisconsin |
Praxis PPST |
|
Praxis PPST |
|