The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires that all prospective teachers pass a basic skills assessment before being formally accepted into a Teacher Education Program at the undergraduate level.  At Cabrini University, you are expected to pass all sections of the basic skills assessment by the beginning of your junior year to maintain a certification track education major.

The basic skills assessment is comprised of three individual tests covering reading, writing and mathematics.  PDE has approved four standardized tests to meet this requirement:

• SAT Plus Writing
• ACT Plus Writing
• Praxis CORE (Core Academic Skills for Educators)
• PAPA (Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment)

You can mix and match passing test scores from different tests to meet the basic skills test requirement.  For example, if you have met the qualifying score reading on the SAT, you can elect to take mathematics and writing modules of the Praxis CORE to meet the basic skills test requirement.  You do not need to take the reading section again, as you have met the qualifying score.

If you have met the state passing scores on the SAT and/or ACT in high school, you need to submit your scores to Cabrini.  If you need to take the exam, the Teacher Education Department strongly recommends that you take the Praxis CORE for Reading and Writing, rather than the PAPA because the CORE has a significantly higher pass rate.