THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Program Completer Performance on New York State Teacher Certification Examinations
DATE:	August 28, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 3
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Information

 

What are the 2004-2005 New York State Teacher Certification Examinations pass rates by institution? How will Content Specialty Test pass rates be used to identify low-performing institutions?

 

Proposed Handling

 

For information.

 

Procedural History

 

Pass-rate data for the State teacher certification examinations is used to meet accountability requirements under Part 52.21(2)(iv) of the Commissioner's Regulations and Federal law (Title II, Higher Education Act).

 

Background Information

 

To qualify for an initial teaching certificate in New York State, students must pass the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST). The attached table summarizes 2004-2005 New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) pass rates for program completers. Institutions must maintain an 80 percent pass rate for all program completers on each examination. If an institution is identified as having a pass rate of less than 80 percent on any of the examinations, it would be required to submit a corrective action plan to the Department for review and approval.

 

Both the State Education Department and the U.S. Department of Education use these test results as one measure to help ensure high standards of quality in teacher education programs. Prior to the February 2004 changes to the State’s certification structure, only LAST and ATS-W scores were used as exam-related accountability measures for teacher education programs when 10 or more students take an examination.    Beginning with the report of test scores for 2004-2005, CST scores will be used as measures for both the State and federal requirements as well.

 

Interpretation of CST Pass Rates for Accountability

 

Since each certificate area has a unique content specialty test, the pass rate on individual CSTs will be used to determine whether an institution is in the low-performing category. For example, an institution may have a pass rate of 80 percent or higher on the English, Physics, and Chemistry CSTs.  If that same institution’s pass rate on the Students with Disabilities CST was below 80 percent, however, the institution would be subject to a corrective action plan for any certification programs in that CST's subject area.

 

The Department will determine whether an institution satisfies the 80 percent pass rate only if the institution has 30 or more scores on each CST. When necessary, data from up to the three most recent years will be accumulated to reach a total of at least 30 scores, beginning with 2004-2005 data as the base year. If an institution does not meet the minimum 80 percent pass rate on any of the examinations, we advise the institution to prepare a corrective action plan for internal use.

 

Corrective Action Based on 2004-2005 NYSTCE Results

 

Based on 2004-2005 LAST, ATS-W, and/or CST examination results, the following institutions will be required to submit corrective action plans for the Department's review and approval:  CUNY Queens, CUNY New York City Technical College, Canisius College, Five Towns College, Mercy College (Bronx), SUC Fredonia, Touro College, and Wagner College.

 

Recommendation

 

N/A

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

N/A