HPU’s Stout School of Education Among Nation’s Best for Preparing Future Teachers

HPU’s undergraduate reading prep program is one of 160 to earn an ‘A’ from the National Council on Teacher Quality.

HIGH POINT, N.C., June 13, 2023 – The undergraduate teacher preparation program at High Point University’s Stout School of Education has been recognized by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for its rigorous preparation of future teachers in how to teach reading.

The program is among 23% nationwide, one of only 160, to earn an “A” grade in NCTQ’s new report Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction. NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to ensuring every classroom has a high-quality teacher.

National data shows more than one-third of fourth-grade students—over 1.3 million children—cannot read at a basic level. While some children learn how to read naturally, research has found most children need explicit, systematic instruction grounded in the science of reading to become successful readers, said NCTQ President Heather Peske. The organization has redefined how it analyzes and evaluates teacher preparedness programs since its last report in January 2020 to ensure its methods are aligned to the most up-to-date research in literacy instruction

Dr. Amy Holcombe, dean of the Stout School of Education, was excited to receive the honor for its teacher preparation literacy programs.

“This grade of ‘A’ signifies that our faculty are among the most effective in the country in delivering a program of study that addresses all five components of a literacy program informed by the science of reading research – phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension,” said Holcombe. “Our faculty have engaged in significant research and training around research-based practices in literacy and are adept at preparing future teachers to be highly effective in the classroom.”

HPU’s School of Education has long been recognized for its excellence. The teacher education programs meet the requirements for both the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and the North Carolina State Board of Education. The Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education builds on the most current body of knowledge relevant to teaching practices in K-6 classrooms.

“Not only does the Stout School of Education offer a robust teacher preparation program, but we also collaborate with literacy researchers across the state and nation,” said Holcombe. “This summer, we are hosting The Science of Reading Summer Institute for university faculty members across the state of North Carolina.”

The NCTQ ranking will result in a boost for surrounding school districts. Students enrolling in the elementary education program are offered many opportunities beginning in their freshman year to practice their skills in local schools. Advanced study through the Elementary B.A. to M.Ed. program with concentrations in literacy or STEM is also available for academically qualified students beginning in their senior year.

“Many of our graduates accept jobs in the Piedmont Triad region and will begin their first year of teaching already prepared to positively impact student outcomes,” said Holcombe. “Whereas some beginning teachers may need their employer to provide training around the science of reading, High Point University graduates will already have the skills and knowledge aligned with decades of literacy research. We are proud to produce such well-prepared teachers and to serve our K-12 partners as a resource.”

Last year, HPU’s Stout School of Education was one of only six universities in the nation and the only one in North Carolina to be awarded more than $20 million in grants, including a nearly $10.4 million Supporting Educator Development (SEED) grant. HPU is using its SEED grant to fund an Executive Education Program for senior level leaders in 18 partner school districts, said Holcombe. That award was in addition to a nearly $10 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant, which set the record for the largest competitive grant ever awarded to HPU.

Photos: 1) Antonella Mendoza (left), a fourth-grade student at Montlieu Academy of Technology, reads with HPU Stout School of Education Fellow Emma Lagana, who is originally from Rockland County, New York. 2) From left to right, Emily Paternostro, from Hamilton, New Jersey, and Charlotte McCallum, from Denver, Colorado, review a book in the Stout School of Education Children’s Library. 3) Taylor Guyton, a senior elementary education major, tutors second-grade student Genesis Mota at Fairview Elementary School in High Point, North Carolina.