CMU elementary education program achieves top marks in new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality
Grand Junction, Colo. — The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at Colorado Mesa University has earned an A from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for preparing future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.
- Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with Elementary Education Licensure: A (View NCTQ grade page)
The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, spotlights Colorado Mesa University for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, 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 National Assessment of Educational Progress data, one in three fourth graders in Colorado cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that, but only if it is aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.
“Earning an A from the NCTQ reflects a rigorous commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction. By aligning our curriculum with the core components of reading science, we ensure our teachers enter the classroom fully equipped to build strong, confident readers," said Nick Bardo, PhD, associate professor and academic department head for teacher education.
Colorado Mesa University is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.
“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. “Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but Colorado Mesa University is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”
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 Colorado Mesa University.
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 that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction.
"As part of the Mavily we lift up the communities around us. This grade from the NCTQ shows that our future educators are being equipped with the absolute best, scientifically proven tools to bring the gift of literacy to every classroom they enter," said Bardo.
See NCTQ’s report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, for more information about Colorado Mesa University’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how Colorado Mesa University compares to other programs in Colorado or across the country.
For more information, contact:
Nick Bardo, PhD
Academic Department Head
Center for Teacher Education
About NCTQ
The National Council on Teacher Quality: NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization on a mission to ensure every child has access to an effective teacher, and every teacher can be effective. We believe a strong, diverse teacher workforce is critical for providing all students with equitable educational opportunities. For more information about NCTQ, visit NCTQ's website.
About Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa University is a Human Scale University that serves as a model of the world we want to create — a world where people aspire to love, extend dignity, choose courage, demonstrate humility, develop resilience, create curiosity and use power for good.