Ferris State University School of Education Program Earns an ‘A+’ for Teacher Preparation in the Science of Reading

Ferris State University’s undergraduate teacher preparation program is receiving high acclaim from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), which ranks it among the nation’s best in preparing future elementary teachers to teach children to read. Ferris’ Elementary Education program has earned A+ distinction in NCTQ’s new report, Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction.

Ferris now ranks among just 48 programs nationwide and is Michigan’s only highlighted by NCTQ for going above and beyond the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction.

“This A+ rating is an affirmation of the outstanding work we’re doing here at Ferris State University to prepare student teachers to go into communities across Michigan and beyond ready to make a positive impact in classrooms to help ensure literacy is a point of emphasis and a foundation for future student success. This foundation is set in our elementary schools,” said Liza Ing, director of the School of Education. “We’re so proud of the work our faculty, especially Amy Kavanaugh and Lindsay Stoetzel, and the staff in the School of Education are doing to prepare our students to be first-rate education leaders in our communities, shaping the young minds that will shape this country’s future.”

The NCTQ points to national data showing more than one-third of fourth-grade students – more than 1.3 million children – cannot read at a basic level. While it concedes that some children will learn to read naturally, five-plus decades of research have established the components of explicit, scientifically-based reading instruction that help most students become successful readers. Research further suggests that 90-plus percent of children could learn to read if their teachers used instructional methods grounded in the science of reading. 

Ferris’ recognition is a pride point for the School of Education staff and faculty who work to ensure that future elementary school teachers are prepared to enter classrooms as knowledgeable, well-trained and skilled to help students become strong readers.

“Ferris State University students seeking teacher certification start as freshmen in their respective education program,” Ing said. “This allows our students to begin their experiences in partner schools very early on in their education.”

Ferris’ School of Education, housed in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, focuses on a balance of theory and practice converging for a well-rounded educational experience for its students. Students complete at least 600 hours in various hands-on, field-based experiences in the PK-6 classroom. Class sizes range from 20-25 students. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), has two concentrations: PK-3 and 3-6. Students can choose to complete both concentrations and have a broad academic base in language arts, math, social studies, and science. Ferris also offers a degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in birth-to-kindergarten. Program students receive the same early literacy exposure as our PK-3 students, which allows them to see the progression from birth to third grade.

The program takes pride in its rigorous student preparation and welcomes this affirmation.

“I congratulate the faculty and staff in the School of Education on this well-deserved honor,” said Randy Cagle, dean of the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. “The School of Education has a central role in the strategic direction of the CASE. Its role in advancing the applied science of pedagogy encapsulates a unifying goal of the College’s many areas of study. Our teacher preparation programs are widely recognized; this latest accolade tells all students who want to become teachers in Michigan that they’re in good hands at Ferris.”

Students in Early Childhood (Birth-K) and Elementary Education (PK-3, and 3-6) take early literacy courses, including field placements that allow for hands-on learning. The students progress through literacy classes and other content knowledge within the first year at Ferris. That progress continues from one-on-one tutoring to small-group lessons to full-class lessons as students gain experience at various grade levels based on the pursued certification level.

In evaluating the provided preparation quality, a team of NCTQ experts analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments, and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for Ferris undergraduate elementary teacher candidates. To earn an A+ distinction, programs had to comfortably exceed 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 any instructional practices that are unsupported by research, such as the debunked three-cueing method, which can inhibit students’ progress in reading. 

“The Ferris State University program serves as a proof point,” said Heather Peske, NCTQ’s president. “Other teacher preparation leaders and faculty across the country must take note. There are programs that are doing this right, ensuring that their elementary teacher candidates get the preparation in how to teach reading that they both want and deserve.”

The new NCTQ analysis of teacher preparation programs’ coverage of the science of reading was developed over two years, involving teams of literacy experts, researchers, teacher preparation leaders, and educators. NCTQ evaluated 693 traditional undergraduate and graduate programs nationwide, including 16 in Michigan. Overall, just 23 percent of programs earned an A or A+ grade, including 112 that received an A and 48 that earned an A+ rating. 

For more information about NCTQ, visit www.nctq.org.

Learn more about Ferris' School of Education academic programs.