Huntington University Earns National Recognition for Preparing Future Elementary Teachers in the Science of Reading
Huntington elementary education program achieves top marks in new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality
HUNTINGTON, Ind. — The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at Huntington University has earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for how well they prepare future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.
• Bachelor of Science in Elementary & Special Education (P-12) (Dual Licensure): A+
The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, spotlights Huntington University for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.
A child’s ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life, yet according to NAEP data, one in three fourth graders in Indiana cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that — but only if it is aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.
Huntington University is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.
“When we send out new teachers, it’s personal,” said Dr. Tyanne Bailey, director of undergraduate teacher education. “We want them ready to teach our own kids. We never set out to chase a grade; we just keep asking whether we are sending teachers out genuinely ready for the hardest, most important thing in an elementary classroom. Doing what’s best for kids always comes first, and that’s exactly why this work matters. Our graduates are prepared, and we could not be more proud.”
“Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,” said NCTQ President Heather Peske. “Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but Huntington University is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”
NCTQ’s methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates and measurement experts. 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 elementary teacher candidates at Huntington University.
To earn an A, programs needed to demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction. To earn an A+, programs needed to exceed those targets and not teach any instructional practices that are unsupported by research.
“Huntington University’s teacher education program meets and surpasses all Science of Reading standards related to literacy education, which has been a high priority of the Indiana Department of Education,” said Dr. Luke Fetters, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. “Our education program faculty work carefully to align every course with best practices in literacy, and we’re grateful that their work has been recognized by the NCTQ.”
See NCTQ’s report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, for more information about Huntington University’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how Huntington University compares to other programs in Indiana or across the country.
