CONTACT: Clara Mae Marcotte

512-593-4143

TAMUK TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM

MEETS ACCREDITATION CRITERIA

KINGSVILLE (September 2, 1998) -- Texas A&M University-Kingsville's teacher preparation program meets the criteria to remain accredited through the 1998-1999 academic year with an 84.13% cumulative ExCET (Examination for Certification of Educators in Texas) pass rate, according to the Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP) data reported by the State Board for Educator Certification.

Dr. Glenna Cannon, Texas A&M-Kingsville College of Education certification officer, said this score is based on meeting the criteria of 80% passing in all gender and ethnic categories for cumulative test takers in the 1997-1998 academic year. Cumulative takers include all students who passed the test the first time in 1996-97 or in one of the subsequent administrations through the 1997-98 academic year. First time 1997-98 test takers overall pass rate was 65.84%. These test takers who passed the first time or in any subsequent test through the 1998-99 academic year are the cumulative test takers for 1998-99. The current pass rate for this group already has increased to 72.60%.

"We're seeing areas of growth," said Cannon. "This can be attributed to more field-based education and to the curricular changes we've made. Overall, we're seeing great areas of improvement. For example, the first-time pass rates for the first cohort to complete the four-semester field-based elementary program in Spring 1998 were 80% for the Professional

Development ExCET and 91.67% for the Elementary Comprehensive ExCET."

The ASEP rating for teacher preparation programs is required under a 1995 state law that overhauled Texas education and takes effect for the first time with the Fall 1998 report. Students seeking certification who are majoring in undergraduate programs in the colleges of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Education take the professional development test in addition to their subject matter tests. Students in graduate programs who are pursuing professional certificates as school counselors, diagnosticians, principals, supervisors and superintendents must also take ExCET examinations in their professional fields.

"We're proud of our teacher preparation," said Dr. Robert Kirby, Texas A&M-Kingsville provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Meeting the criteria for the ExCET reflects on every college on our campus. This verifies to the region that we have quality academic programs at this institution."

Dr. Gustavo Gonzalez, interim dean of the College of Education, said meeting the criteria was an intensive collaborative effort between the College of Education and the colleges of Agriculture & Human Sciences, Arts & Sciences, and Business Administration. "This shows we can do it and can collaborate."

-TAMUK-