Teacher education programs at �� prove their status among nation’s best with CAEP accreditation

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s teacher education programs are once again securing the national seal of approval for excellence in educator preparation.

Partnership Middle School classroom — Lauren Shumaker, a 2021 Mississippi State College of Education graduate, leads English Language Arts instruction at Starkville Oktibbeha School District's Partnership Middle School, located on the university's campus. ��’s College of Education is one of only 55 programs in the U.S. to meet rigorous standards this fall set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. (Photo by Megan Bean)

��’s College of Education becomes one of only 55 programs in 28 states which this fall have met the high and rigorous standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

College of Education Dean Teresa Jayroe said of the welcomed announcement, “We’ve set a very high bar for our teacher prep programs, and this official endorsement from CAEP validates the outstanding work our faculty and students are doing to keep Mississippi State’s K-12 preparation programs at the top nationally. Our students and their families can be confident in the investment they’re making in our programs here at ��.”

According to Jayroe, the ongoing national teacher shortage, evident in all grades in Mississippi, is a problem that �� and the College of Education programs are working to address. Information released by the Mississippi Department of Education this past year shows more than 3,000 openings for certified teachers, a significant number when taking into account there are about 32,000 teachers in the state. Over the past four years, 1,525 students have been prepared for the K-12 teaching profession in ��’s traditional undergraduate and alternate route teacher education programs.

“This ongoing shortage is unmistakable proof that the teachers of tomorrow must be well trained and also adaptable in the classroom,” she said.

In gaining accreditation, �� had to pass review of the CAEP standards based on two principles: (1) solid evidence that the university’s graduates are competent and caring educators; and (2) solid evidence that faculty and staff have the ability to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance program quality. �� offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including online, in elementary, secondary and special education.

CAEP President Christopher Koch said, “Seeking this national council’s accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider. These institutions meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them for success in a diverse range of classrooms.”

��’s College of Education can be found at .

�� is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

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