IU School of Education proficiency test scores announced

April 9, 2001

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University School of Education has announced the results of its 1999-2000 teaching proficiency testing program.

Ninety-three percent of teacher education students on the IU Bloomington campus and 90 percent of teaching students at the IUPUI campus passed the state-required series of tests.

Statewide, 92 percent of teacher education students received passing scores. The tests measure basic skills and content in a teacher's area of specialization.

"The results of this test are in line with what we've known about the Indiana University School of Education," said Gerardo M. Gonzalez, University Dean of the School of Education. "We have high-quality students and programs. To maintain that competitive edge, we are continually looking for more ways to enhance the programs we have in place and to add programs that will help define this school as one of the premier schools of education in the country."

There are currently 2,095 students in the teacher preparation program at IU Bloomington and 1,337 students at IUPUI. In 2000, there were 606 IU Bloomington and 244 IUPUI graduates of the program. IU's teaching graduates have been recruited by 43 states, from California to New York and from Alaska to Texas, while the school has maintained its status as the largest producer of teachers for Indiana schools.

A 100 percent pass rate for the Bloomington campus was achieved in 10 program areas, including mathematics, biology, general science, government/political science, English language and literature, and education in the elementary school. The IUPUI campus had a 100 percent pass rate in geography, psychology, art education, professional knowledge, and education in the elementary school.

Congress required education proficiency test scores to be published after it enacted amendments to the Higher Education Act in 1998, authorizing new federal grant programs to support states, institutions of higher education such as IU, and their school district partners. The legislation also includes accountability measures requiring institutions and states to report on teacher preparation and licensing.

The data released are the first in a series of reports required by the Higher Education Act. The Indiana Professional Standards Board will release comparison data for all Indiana educational institutions in October, and the U.S. Department of Education will make a nationwide report to Congress and the public in April 2002. These reports will then be made annually.

The full report for the IU School of Education at the Bloomington campus is available at http://www.education.indiana.edu/programs/title2iub.html. The report for IUPUI is at http://education.iupui.edu/programs/title2iupui.htm

(Debbie O'Leary, School of Education, 812-856-8031, devo99@indiana.edu)