Union College’s undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program has been named one of the top in the country by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a nonpartisan, not-for-profit research and policy organization.
In May, as part of a new book, Start Here to Become a Teacher, NCTQ named 120 undergraduate programs that excel in preparing teacher candidates to meet the demands of their future classrooms. Using nearly two decades of extensive research in teacher preparation, NCTQ assessed programs on critical, evidence-based measures, including:
- Rigorous admissions process
- Emphasis on research-based approaches to teaching reading and math for elementary candidates
- Content knowledge for secondary candidates
- Training in classroom management strategies that work for all students
- Quality student teaching experiences
Of the 872 undergraduate programs reviewed, Union College was recognized as a leader in the field.
“I’m glad we have a national organization confirming what we hear from the field about how well-trained our teachers are in practical skills and how they show an strong ability to serve in multi-grade classrooms," said Union College President Vinita Sauder.
“The universities named in Start Here are exemplary in their dedication to training the next generation of great teachers,” says Kate Walsh, NCTQ President and book author. “We commend these institutions for the thoughtful manner in which they’ve grounded their approach to teacher preparation in what research shows to actually be effective.”
Start Here to Become a Teacher is intended to serve as a guidebook for aspiring teachers. In addition to naming top undergraduate teacher prep programs, the book calls out common myths about teaching and what successful teachers love most about their jobs, features an affordability index describing the places where renting an apartment on a teacher’s salary is more or less feasible, gives advice on the best courses to take, and provides information on making sure a student teaching experience pays off and on how to land a first job. Learn more at www.startheretoteach.org.