A column in the Wisconsin State Journal by Esther J. Cepeda highlights the success of the UW–Madison School of Education’s teacher education programs, both in attracting students of color and preparing them to pass their certification tests.
Cepeda is a columnist for the State Journal who “writes about race, culture, education, politics, and more.”
In her column, headlined “The best 3 schools at producing teachers of color,” Cepeda argues how critical it is for students to have qualified teachers, and for all students, teachers of color.
“Understand that all students need teachers of color from kindergarten through high school,” Cepeda writes. “The students of color need role models, safe haven adults, and confidants, while white students need to see non-white experts leading instruction so they can get used to living in a diverse society that values diversity, inclusion, and equality.”
However, Cepeda notes there is disparity in the pass rates on certification tests at different institutions of higher education, and those students who are graduating from less selective programs — which also enroll more lower-income students and students of color — are likeliest to have the lowest pass rates.
According to the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), writes Cepeda, 76 percent of Wisconsin test-takers pass the elementary content licensure test on their first try; however, the rate is 51 percent for teachers of color.
“To share a small ray of light,” Cepeda identifies three Wisconsin colleges and universities that have attracted lower-income students to their teacher education programs, and where those students also have above average pass rates on their certification tests for teacher licensure.
UW–Madison appears at the top of the list. Here, first-attempt pass rates for test takers of color exceeds the state’s average first-time pass rate, at 100 percent, compared with 76 percent across the state.
The other two institutions Cepeda highlights include Cardinal Stritch University and Alverno College, which both have first-time pass rates of 77 percent and enroll among the most diverse teacher preparation classes in the state.
To learn more, check out Cepeda’s full column at madison.com.