Ninety-seven percent of Montclair State University student teachers passed the tests required by the state of New Jersey for teacher certification.

Reports of test results, mandated by Title II of the Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 and released by the U.S. Department of Education on Nov. 28, revealed that 265 of 273 MSU student teachers tested passed the tests, placing Montclair State in the First Quartile among the 21 colleges and universities in the state.

The University's passing rate was the third highest in the state, behind Princeton's 100 (20 of 20 students tested) and the College of New Jersey's 98 (357 of 364).

"The federal government is requiring all states and institutions with teacher education programs to prepare annual reports on teacher preparation and licensing," said Ada Beth Cutler, dean of Education and Human Services. "As part of these reports, all teacher education programs must annually report their teacher education candidates' pass rate on state tests. While we realize this is only one measure of teacher quality, we are delighted that we have achieved an overall pass rate of 97 percent. Additionally, in most of our certification programs, 100 percent of our candidates passed the required tests."

Cutler noted that Montclair State is extensively involved in a number of innovative programs. "We have established the first-in-the-nation Center of Pedagogy, which brings together faculty from the arts and sciences, education and the public schools, and involves them in the ongoing work of teacher education. It is the umbrella under which all of MSU's pre-service and continuing education programs for teachers thrive."

The University also has one of the nation’s most mature school-university partnerships, the New Jersey Network for Educational Renewal. "The NJNER is committed to an extensive, ongoing collaboration with 23 school district partners that benefits MSU, the students, the teachers and the community," Cutler said. "Teacher education at MSU is recognized as among the strongest programs in the nation. We are extremely pleased that our student candidates' high marks bear witness to the success of our programs."

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