Minnesota State Moorhead Receives National A+ Rating for Teacher Preparation

Minnesota State Moorhead Receives National A+ Rating for Teacher Preparation

Minnesota State Moorhead has earned an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for its preparation of future teachers in its Early Childhood Education and Elementary Inclusive Education programs, recognizing the university as a top teacher preparation program nationwide.

Published June 9, NCTQ's report evaluated over 700 educator preparation programs on how well the programs equip future teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to teach reading effectively. NCTQ's review analyzes course materials, syllabi, assessments and clinical experiences to determine how well programs prepare future teachers to teach reading using evidence-based methods.

Programs earning an A+ rating demonstrate strong preparation in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction: phonic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

"This is something we are tremendously proud of," early childhood education professor Dr. Erin Gillett says. "It is the result of years of careful course redesign to align with the Science of Reading."

Moorhead has a long history of preparing educators who make a difference in classrooms across Minnesota and the region. Through extensive field experience and strong partnerships with schools, students gain practical experience implementing effective literacy instruction before entering the profession.

Last fall, in partnership with Moorhead Area Public Schools, the university became the pilot location for the Minnesota Literacy Labs. Through the Literacy Lab, early childhood and elementary education students earned experience teaching literacy fundamentals as Early Literacy Fellows.

Strong teacher preparation is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in improving literacy outcomes for children. NCTQ notes that many teacher preparation programs nationwide continue to fall short of fully aligning with the science of reading, making institutions that earn top marks important examples of best practices in educator preparation.

The A+ rating from NCTQ emphasizes Moorhead's mission to prepare graduates who are equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of today's educational landscape.