The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at Louisiana Tech University has earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for how well they prepare future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education Mild/Moderate - Grades 1-5: A+ (View grade page)
The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, spotlights Louisiana Tech 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.
A child’s ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life, yet according to NAEP data, four in ten fourth graders in Louisiana cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that, but only if it is aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.
Louisiana Tech is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide, helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading. The Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership prepares students through hands-on, immersive experiences that bridge theory and practice, helping them build the skills to manage classrooms, design effective lessons, and support diverse learners.
“This recognition from NCTQ reflects the intentional work our faculty have undertaken to ensure that future educators leave Louisiana Tech prepared to teach reading using evidence-based practices,” Dr. Dustin Whitlock, interim department head of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership, said. “Strong literacy instruction changes the trajectory of a child's life, and we are committed to preparing great teachers. I am incredibly proud of the work led by Dr. Kim Kimbell-Lopez, Dr. Libby Manning, and the rest of our literacy team. This external evaluation provides validation that our candidates are receiving the knowledge and clinical experiences needed to support all students.”
“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 Louisiana Tech University is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”
NCTQ’s 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 Louisiana Tech.
To earn an “A,” programs needed to 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. To earn an A+, programs needed to exceed those targets and avoid teaching any instructional practices unsupported by research.
“We are especially honored by the recognition of our Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education Mild/Moderate - Grades 1-5 program,” Dr. Henrietta Williams Pichon, dean of the College of Education and Human Science, said. “We continue to strive for excellence and remain committed to preparing highly qualified educators, serving as a leading program of choice for future teachers across Louisiana.”
See NCTQ’s report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation for more information about Louisiana Tech University’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how Louisiana Tech University compares to other programs in Louisiana or across the country.