NH Teacher Prep Programs rank 3rd in U.S.

Concord - New Hampshire’s teacher preparation programs rank third in the nation in a just-released report by The National Council on Teacher Quality. The ranking is led by Keene State College, Plymouth State University, and Southern NH University, which all earned A grades.

"Early reading is the keystone for children's education," said New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. "We are proud that New Hampshire's teacher preparation programs are among the best in the nation in this essential skill."

The Council began publishing its Teacher Prep Review in 2013. For the first time, more than half of U.S. teacher preparation programs provide instruction in phonemic awareness, the first skill teachers need to teach before children can learn to read. Teacher Prep Review scores teacher preparation programs based on whether they train teachers in five essential components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

"New Hampshire's teacher preparation programs do an excellent job training teachers for the classroom," added Stephen Appleby, Director of the Division of Educator Support and Higher Education. "I am pleased to see these programs earn national recognition."

The National Council on Teacher Quality is expected to published the entire Teacher Prep Review in March.

• Read the Early Reading report
• Read state-specific results
• Read individual program scores