Lewis-Clark State College’s Elementary Education bachelor’s program was one of only 15 programs nationwide to earn an A-plus grade for its early reading standards coursework from the National Council on Teacher Quality. Each year the non-partisan, nonprofit research and policy organization rates graduate-level and alternative route teacher preparation programs on how well they are preparing the next generation of teachers to succeed in the classroom. The organization released its 2020 Teacher Prep Review: Program Performance in Early Reading Instruction report on Monday, which researches the progress on the science of reading instruction in teacher preparation. LCSC received accolades for promoting the five essential components of reading, including explicit and repeated instruction on each component; support for instruction with high-quality textbooks that accurately detail established principles of scientifically-based reading practices; and opportunities for teacher candidates to demonstrate mastery through in-class assignments, tests, and instructional practice. Only two other western schools, both in Utah, were honored with an A-plus score – Utah State and Dixie State. (LCSC)
