Idaho State University Earns National Recognition for Preparing Future Elementary Teachers in the Science of Reading

The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at Idaho State 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: A View grade page

The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, spotlights Idaho State University 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 Idaho 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.

Idaho State University is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.

“Idaho State University’s Teacher Education Program is dedicated to preparing future educators who are knowledgeable in the science of literacy and who matriculate well-prepared to educate students effectively using evidence-based practices,” said Amanda Eller, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Teaching and Educational Studies and literacy faculty. 

ISU’s literacy faculty have been long-standing members of the Idaho Higher Education Literacy Partnership (IHELP), which has helped inform and strengthen the TEP’s core literacy coursework for elementary, secondary, special, and deaf education. Additionally, ISU offers an Early Literacy K-3 endorsement to teacher candidates pursuing a degree in elementary education. 

“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 Idaho State 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 Idaho State University. 

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. 

"Earning an A from NCTQ affirms our commitment to preparing highly effective literacy educators,” said Joanne Toevs, clinical instructor in the Department of Teaching and Educational Studies. “As literacy faculty, we have carefully aligned our courses with the science of reading while fostering a deep understanding of why strong literacy instruction matters. We want our future teachers not only to implement evidence-based practices, but also to recognize literacy as the foundation for lifelong learning and success for all students." 

See NCTQ’s report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation for more information about Idaho State University’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how Idaho State University compares to other programs in Idaho or across the country.