Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State students preparing for elementary education careers are learning to teach reading through exemplary preparation methods, earning MSU and its College of Education an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality.

The NCTQ today [June 13] announced MSU’s undergraduate program in elementary education as one of only 48 in the U.S. to earn its highest distinction for preparing aspiring teachers in the most effective, scientifically based methods for teaching children reading. The A+ designation celebrates selected programs for going above and beyond the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction, known as the “science of reading.” NCTQ also has released a new report titled Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction, which notes “major gaps” at many other colleges and universities across the country.

MSU College of Education Dean Teresa Jayroe said MSU has a strong literacy faculty on the university’s Starkville, Meridian and Distance campuses.

“I want to commend our faculty for the work they do because they ensure that our students are prepared to effectively teach reading,” Jayroe said.

The rating process involves NCTQ experts analyzing syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments and chances to practice instruction in required literacy courses for undergraduate elementary teacher candidates. MSU’s A+ distinction means that the College of Education exceeded NCTQ’s targets for covering five core components of research-supported reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

“Our faculty make sure these areas are covered, and our classes span from early literacy instruction to integrating literacy across content areas,” Jayroe said. She explained that MSU elementary education majors take 15 credit hours in reading instruction.

“Our students have opportunities to apply what they are learning from the reading classes during field experiences in elementary classrooms,” Jayroe said.

NCTQ evaluated 693 traditional undergraduate and graduate programs across the country. Only 23% earned an A or A+ grade with 112 programs earning an A in addition to the 48 earning an A+.

In 2022, MSU also was recognized by the organization with an A+ rating for ensuring future educators are prepared to effectively teach mathematics.

MSU’s College of Education is home to six academic departments, a division of education, one research unit and numerous service units. Learn more about its elementary education undergraduate program in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education at www.educ.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.