Ball State Teacher Preparation Programs Earn Top Ratings in Science of Reading Reviews

Topics: Academic Programs, Awards, Faculty, Teachers College

June 25, 2026

Ball State University's elementary education, early childhood education, and special education teacher preparation programs have earned top marks in two reviews focused on how well future educators are prepared to teach reading through evidence-based, scientifically grounded instruction.

Following an intensive review by Teacher Prep Inspection-US, or TPI-US, Ball State's traditional undergraduate and Transition-to-Teaching pathways in elementary education, early childhood education, and special education received the highest overall rating of "Strong" in each of the three areas evaluated: Quality of Literacy Instruction; Quality of Field-Based Experience; and Quality of Performance Management and Continuous Improvement. The review was conducted as part of Indiana's statewide effort to evaluate educator preparation programs' alignment with the Science of Reading.

Ball State also earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality for its undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program in NCTQ's 2026 Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation.

Together, the recognitions demonstrate a distinctive strength across Ball State's literacy preparation and affirm the University's leadership in preparing future educators to teach reading effectively.

"This recognition affirms the exceptional work happening across Teachers College and reflects our deep commitment to preparing educators who are ready to meet the needs of children and schools across Indiana," said Dr. Katrina Bulkley, dean of Ball State's Teachers College. "Strong reading instruction can change the trajectory of a child's life, and Ball State is proud to prepare future teachers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to help students become successful readers."

The TPI-US review was a rigorous, multi-day evaluation that included a review of course syllabi and instructional materials, course observations, candidate observations, feedback provided by University supervisors, interviews with program leaders, faculty, current candidates, recent graduates, and school and district partners, as well as analysis of program documents and data.

TPI-US found that Ball State's reviewed programs demonstrate intentional attention to coursework that builds a strong depth of knowledge across all components of literacy, with a focus on evidence-based principles of instruction, high-quality reading research, and models and frameworks from the Science of Reading. The report also noted that Ball State prepares candidates to evaluate, select, and use high-quality instructional materials and to support diverse learners, including multilingual learners, students with dyslexia and developmental language disorder, neurodivergent learners, and gifted and talented learners.

The review also highlighted Ball State's strong field-based experiences and systems for continuous improvement. TPI-US noted that Ball State provides consistent expectations and high-quality training for mentor teachers, University supervisors, and school partners; collects and analyzes data across the reviewed programs; and uses that information to strengthen candidate preparation and student outcomes.

"This is a meaningful acknowledgment of the intentional, research-based work our faculty have done to strengthen literacy preparation for future teachers," said Dr. Jackie Sydnor, chair of the Department of Elementary Education and associate professor of elementary education. "The TPI-US review was especially significant because it examined not only what we teach, but how our candidates apply that knowledge in classrooms. Our candidates learn what effective reading instruction includes, how to use evidence-based practices, and how to respond to children who bring different strengths, experiences, and learning needs to the classroom. That is essential for improving literacy outcomes in Indiana and beyond."

The TPI-US report notes that Ball State is the largest educator preparation provider in Indiana and has been CAEP-accredited since 1954. The review included Ball State's traditional undergraduate and Transition-to-Teaching pathways in elementary education, early childhood education, and special education.

NCTQ's recognition further reinforces Ball State's strength in literacy preparation. Ball State's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Kindergarten and Primary with Certification earned an A+ in NCTQ's review. NCTQ found that Ball State exceeded its threshold for adequate coverage across all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction-phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension-and identified no evidence of course content focused on practices that run contrary to research-based reading instruction.

NCTQ's review examined Ball State course materials, including class session topics, assignments, practice opportunities, assessments, and background materials in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates. Ball State's undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program earned perfect 12-of-12 scores across all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction.

The NCTQ report also highlighted Ball State's preparation of elementary teacher candidates to support a range of learners. The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program earned 8 out of 8 points for preparing candidates to support English learners, placing it in the 99th percentile among evaluated programs; 6 out of 8 points for supporting students who speak language varieties other than General American English, also placing it in the 99th percentile; and 6 out of 8 points for preparing candidates to support struggling readers, placing it in the 77th percentile.

According to NCTQ's Indiana-specific report, only 65 percent of Indiana fourth-grade students read at or above a basic level, underscoring the importance of strong teacher preparation in reading instruction.

For more information about NCTQ's 2026 Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, visit nctq.org.