Standard 3 (4): The unit must implement an assessment system with a process for annually collecting and reviewing data from candidate scores on state-required examinations and board-adopted performance assessments.

The data receiving the most attention in the UED and its program are those about candidate performance on the required MTLE content and pedagogy exams as well as candidates’ edTPA scores.

Every candidate completing student teaching is required to develop and submit a teacher work sample, commonly referred to as the edTPA. The edTPA portfolio is scored locally by the university supervisors and externally by trained reviewers through Pearson. Since official scores from Pearson are high stakes for the unit, they are analyzed at the Task and Rubric levels. Exhibit 3.4.1 provides evidence of how edTPA data is collected and analyzed at the unit, program and candidate levels.

Teacher candidates are required to take the MTLE to meet licensing requirements for a Tier 2 license and to pass the content and pedagogy exams for Tier 3 licensure. Exhibit 3.4.2 provides evidence of how MTLE data is collected and analyzed at the unit, program and candidate levels with the pass rates on content tests, pedagogy tests and the essential skills exam.

The UED Assessment Coordinator collects MTLE and edTPA data throughout the year.  These aggregated data sets disaggregated by program and by broad racial/ethnic group are first analyzed by the UED Assessment Committee and then faculty who serve as licensure program coordinators. Each year the UED holds extended “Data Retreats” with all faculty and staff to discuss candidate results on these standardized assessments. During the data day, the Assessment Coordinator presents an overview of the unit-level data from MTLE, edTPA, surveys and student teaching. Thereafter, there is a deep dive into content area program-level data spearheaded by the program coordinator with the assistance of the Assessment Coordinator. These data are shared with stakeholders and used together with other data to inform discussions leading to improvements of MTLE exam and edTPA scores.

Based upon teacher candidate performance data, the unit now requires all teacher candidates to take content area practice exams in EDU 311 to provide themselves and the unit with diagnostic data.  Effective fall 2022, all candidates are now required to attempt the actual MTLE content and pedagogy exams before student teaching. Furthermore, candidates now have a subscription to a number of resources including (for example) Study.com and Mometrix, and an additional library resources page to guide them in preparation for the various exams per program requirements. As well, the unit has devoted faculty resources to providing direct support to candidates. Additional support to assist candidates do well on the edTPA have also been scaffolded throughout the curriculum of each program and during student teaching seminars. In the fall of 2022, intervention committees were formed to focus on strengthening student performance on the MTLE and edTPA assessments.