UHV School of Education recognized by state agency
Future educators who have graduated from the University of Houston-Victoria School of Education & Human Development have passed an important test of their own.
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| Diane Prince |
The Texas Education Agency recently notified the school that its students averaged a passing rate of 90 percent for all groups and received a rating of “Accredited” under the Accountability System for Educator Preparation. The accreditation is based on pass rates of students on the Texas Examination of Educator Standards, which graduates must pass to become certified teachers in Texas.
“Our students performed very well on the revised TEA exams, showing an important element of preparation for their future professional roles,” said Diane Prince, interim dean of the UHV School of Education & Human Development. “This reflects the high quality of our graduates and the instructional efforts of our faculty.”
In order to be accredited, 70 percent of all participants in each of the demographic groups tracked by TEA – Hispanic, white, black, other ethnic groups, males and females – must pass certification tests on the first attempt. In addition, 80 percent of all graduates must pass the certification within 18 months of graduating.
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| Carol Klages |
The UHV school’s pass rates for the initial teacher certifications place it in the top 30 percent of 67 education programs in Texas, Prince said.
The most recent status was granted based on initial student pass rates between Sept. 1, 2010, and Aug. 31, 2011. The School of Education & Human Development had 347 future teachers finish the program during that period.
Carol Klages, certification officer for the UHV School of Education & Human Development, said the TEA exam included changes that raised the early childhood education certification level from fourth to sixth grade, resulting in a more challenging exam.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
