Story: Lisa Sollie
UWA elementary education program achieves top marks in new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality
The University of West Alabama鈥檚 undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program in the Julia S. Tutwiler College of Education has received an A+ from the (NCTQ) for its excellence in preparing future elementary teachers to teach reading effectively.
The report, , published on June 9, spotlights the University of West Alabama for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.
鈥淭his recognition reflects our deep commitment to preparing future teachers with the knowledge, practice, and confidence they need to teach reading effectively from day one,鈥� said Dr. Cheryl Lambert, College of Education dean. 鈥淪trong literacy instruction changes the trajectory of a child鈥檚 academic life, and we are proud that our elementary education program is grounded in research-based practices that support teachers, schools, and the students they serve.鈥�
UWA鈥檚 elementary education program prepares teacher candidates through coursework, field experiences, and clinical practice designed to connect research-based instruction with the real needs of classrooms. The program emphasizes evidence-based literacy practices, strong partnerships with schools, and preparation for teaching in rural and diverse educational settings across Alabama and beyond.
鈥淓very 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,鈥� said NCTQ President Heather Peske. 鈥淎cross the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but University of West Alabama is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.鈥�
NCTQ鈥檚 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 teacher candidates at UWA.聽
To earn an 鈥淎,鈥� programs must demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction. Earning an A+, indicates that programs exceed those targets and do not teach any instructional practices that are unsupported by research.
NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to effective teachers. NCTQ believes a strong, diverse teacher workforce is critical for providing all students with equitable educational opportunities.
To learn more about UWA鈥檚 nationally recognized teacher preparation program, visit /programs/elementary-education-k-6/
See NCTQ鈥檚 report, for more information about the University of West Alabama鈥檚 coverage of the science of reading and to see how UWA compares to other programs in Alabama or across the country.