Cleveland State University Teacher Preparation Programs Earn A Grades in Reading Instruction

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Cleveland State University (CSU) graduate and undergraduate elementary teacher preparation programs have earned A grades from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), recognizing excellence in preparing future educators to teach reading. 

CSU was recognized for its Bachelor of Science in Education PK-5 Education and Master of Education P-5 Education with Licensure programs, both housed within the School of Education and Counseling in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. 

The results place CSU among a leading group of teacher preparation programs nationwide that are strengthening how future teachers are trained to teach reading. 

CSU was recognized for fully addressing all five core components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. 

“Reading is foundational to opportunity and opens doors for entire communities,” said Dr. Jill Gordon, dean of the CSU Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. “At Levin College, we prepare educators who are making a meaningful impact across Northeast Ohio’s schools and neighborhoods.” 

“Our faculty are turning evidence-based reading instruction into real impact, helping our students build strong literacy skills that will shape their futures,” Joanne Goodell, director of the School of Education and Counseling, added. 

The ratings are part of NCTQ’s newly released Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, which evaluates teacher preparation programs nationwide on how well they align with research-based approaches to reading instruction.  

“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 Cleveland State University is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.” 

Learn more about CSU’s teacher education programs at levin.csuohio.edu.