USCA Earns National Recognition for Excellence in Reading Teacher Preparation

The National Council on Teacher Quality gave USCA a grade A for its elementary education curriculum and programs, which prepare Pacers to teach reading to elementary students. 

“We are proud of this recognition because it reflects the hard work of our faculty and the strength of our elementary education program,” said Dr. David Buckman, dean of the USCA School of Education. 

“Reading proficiency remains one of the most important foundations for student success, and our faculty are committed to preparing teacher candidates who can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children.”   

The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, recognizes USCA for meeting literacy standards and incorporating effective methods of reading instruction. Based on the report, future teachers who graduate from USCA are ready to provide science-based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. 

“While no single review defines a program, it is encouraging to see our efforts in literacy preparation recognized," Buckman said. 

Data included in the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicates that four in 10 fourth graders in South Carolina cannot read at a basic level.  

NCTQ believes teacher preparation is key to changing that — but only if aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers. 

“Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,” said NCTQ President Heather Peske.  

“Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but University of South Carolina Aiken is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.” 

NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization that aims to help ensure every child’s educational success. Its methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates and measurement experts. To evaluate the quality of preparation being provided, a team of experts at NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary education majors at USCA.  

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