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Marietta program among best in U.S. for preparing future teachers in Science of Reading

Undergraduate program earns 'A' letter grade in new report from National Council on Teacher Quality

by Tom Perry

Marietta, Ohio (06/13/2023) — The undergraduate teacher preparation program at Marietta College has been recognized by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for its rigorous preparation of future teachers in how to teach reading, earning an "A" grade in NCTQ's new report, Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction.

The program is among just 23 percent nationwide to earn an "A" from NCTQ for meeting standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction - often called the "science of reading."

National data shows that more than one-third of fourth-grade students - more than 1.3 million children - cannot read at a basic level. By preparing teachers in the methods that research has shown to work best, we can change these devastating results.

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 undergraduate elementary teacher candidates at Marietta College. To earn an "A," programs needed to meet NCTQ's targets for coverage of the five core components of scientifically based reading instruction - phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension - and not teach more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction.

While some portion of children will learn to read naturally, over five decades of research have established the components of explicit, scientifically based reading instruction that help most students become successful readers. Research suggests that more than 90 percent of children could learn to read if their teachers used instructional methods grounded in the science of reading. Marietta College is proud to be recognized among the programs ensuring that future elementary teachers enter the classroom equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to help students become strong readers.

"Dr. Raven Cromwell and Dr. Dottie Erb have been key players in the statewide Literacy Collaborative that is facilitated by the Deans Compact for Exceptional Children," said Dr. Tanya Judd, Marietta College's Education Department Chair. "The support of the Compact has given us the resources and the material to align all of our literacy courses to the Science of Reading."

Marietta College's Education Department has been teaching teacher candidates Science of Reading, which teaches children to read using science-based methods as opposed to the antiquated rewards-based methods. Current teachers are training to understand and use the new approach.

Marietta's Special Education and Elementary Dual Degree provides the coursework and experiences necessary for two teaching licenses: the Ohio Early Childhood License (Preschool through grade 3) and the Ohio Mild to Moderate Intervention Specialist License (Kindergarten through grade 12). The program contains additional coursework and experiences for the grade 4 and 5 endorsement. Throughout the program, teacher candidates complete methods courses in all subject areas, courses in how to work with students with diverse needs, and a 12-hour core of classes designed to prepare you to teach reading in preschool through grade five and pass the required Ohio test of reading for teachers.

Dr. Dottie Erb served as the Education Department Chair for many years and is still a professor. She said, five years ago, Marietta was one of the first colleges to join the Ohio P20 Literacy Collaborative.

"The purpose of this group is for higher education and PK-12 education to work together across Ohio to ensure that all teachers are prepared to effectively teach reading and writing in preschool through 12th grade," she said. "Our work with the Collaborative has allowed us to strengthen our clinical partnerships with local schools to allow our teacher candidates to observe and practice evidence-based reading instruction. This work has also given us the opportunity to be one of the leading institutions in Ohio for incorporating the science of reading into our teacher preparation program. Dr. Cromwell's work to redesign our core literacy courses will allow our graduates to positively impact the schools and districts where they teach. The NCTQ rating for our program is based on just one small indicator of the work we are doing in the field of literacy."

The new NCTQ analysis of teacher preparation programs' coverage of the science of reading was developed over the course of two years, involving teams of literacy experts, researchers, teacher preparation leaders, and educators. NCTQ evaluated 693 traditional undergraduate and graduate programs across the country, including 26 in Ohio. Overall, just 112 programs earned an A and 48 earned an A+.

"Our local P-12 partners have been excited to join us on this journey, and Marietta College has managed to provide LETRS training, a two-year intensive professional development experience focused on the Science of Reading, to teachers in three districts to date," Judd said. "Michelle Elia, a regional literacy expert, has facilitated this rigorous training and has had a hand in transforming literacy instruction in Southeastern Ohio and our program as well. Our teacher candidates are entering the field with training that experienced teachers are clamoring for as we learn more and more about the brain and how children read."

See the NCTQ report for more information about Marietta College's coverage of the science of reading and to see how Marietta College compares to other programs in Ohio or across the country.

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 has the opportunity to 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 www.nctq.org.

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers more than 50 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

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