Praxis Exams, Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) & Title II Information

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) sponsors the Praxis series of professional tests for future teachers. The Praxis I and II examine teacher development and performance. Praxis I is typically used as a screening test for admission into some education programs. Wooster does not require Praxis I at this time. All students seeking initial licensure in the state of Ohio must take Praxis II. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) requires passage of the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test and one or more content test(s) (appropriate to the licensure area being sought).

Specific information about the Praxis testing requirements is available through the Educational Testing Service website or the Teaching and Learning website (choose Praxis). Information about testing requirements in Ohio is also available at the Ohio Department of Education website. As the specific tests required by the ODE change from time to time, it is essential that teaching candidates follow the directives on the ETS website regarding required tests for each specific Ohio license.

In addition, “Tests at a Glance” study guides are available online and study guides are available in the Wooster Libraries.

Praxis II

The following information is available regarding the Praxis II passage rate of College of Wooster completers:

Program Completion Year	Wooster Graduates Completing Praxis II	Rate of Passage
2010 - 2011	21	100%
2009 - 2010	21	100%
2008 - 2009	21	100%
2007 - 2008	34	100%
2006 - 2007	37	100%
2005 - 2006	16	100%
2004 - 2005	18	100%

Assessment data show only a slight trend in teacher licensure candidates having difficulty passing the Social Studies Content Knowledge test on the first try. No other tests show a trend in rate of failure on the first try. Passage rates are reported as of July of the year of program completion.

Explanation of Praxis I, II, and Teacher Performance Assessment

Praxis I

The Departments of Education and Music Education at the College of Wooster do not require completion and passage of the Praxis I test. It is required by some institutions in Ohio for admission into teacher education programs. It is also required in some states for initial certification or licensure (e.g. Pennsylvania). Praxis I is divided into 4 sections: Reading, Writing, Math, and is a general, broadly designed series of tests. Refer to the ETS website for more information on Praxis I.

Praxis II

Completion and passage of at least two Praxis II tests is required by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) of all individuals seeking initial teaching licensure in the state of Ohio, regardless of the institution in which teacher preparation is being completed. The Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) and at least one Content Area test must be passed before the initial provisional license can be issued to the individual. The Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test is required of all individuals seeking licensure. The PLT is divided into three categories, aligned with the licensure areas in Ohio. The PLT test appropriate to the license being earned must be taken. Any level of the PLT can also be selected by students seeking the Multi-age Teaching License (grades P-12). These three tests are:

PLT P-3: This test is required of all students seeking the Early Childhood Teaching License (grades P-3). Those seeking the Multi-Age license can choose to take this test, but are required to take ONLY one of these three PLT tests.
PLT 4-9: Those seeking the Multi-Age license can choose to take the PLT 4-9 test, but are required to take ONLY one of these three PLT tests.
PLT 7-12: This test is currently required of all students seeking the Adolescent to Young Adult Teaching License (grades 7-12). Those seeking the Multi-Age license can choose to take this test, but are required to take ONLY one of these three PLT tests.

Content area tests are required for almost all licensure areas. The content area test is aligned with the specific license being earned. For instance, the Education of Young Children content area test is required for those individuals seeking the initial provisional license in Early Childhood or the Mathematics Content Knowledge test is required for those individuals seeking the initial provisional license in Adolescent to Young Adult Mathematics. Check which tests are required in Ohio, and consult State requirements. Students are responsible for checking these requirements and registering/taking the correct tests. It is essential that the official scores be sent to the College of Wooster and the Ohio Department of Education from ETS in order to process the teaching license.

Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA)

edTPA is a pre-service assessment that requires candidates to actually demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to help all students learn in real classrooms. edTPA is intended to be used for teacher licensure and to support state and national program accreditation.

edTPA is subject-specific with separate versions for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Childhood and Secondary licensure fields. edTPA includes a review of a teacher candidate’s authentic teaching materials as the culmination of a teaching and learning process that documents and demonstrates each candidate’s ability to effectively teach subject matter to all students.

The assessment provides a uniform and evidence-based process that can be used across states to confirm that aspiring teachers demonstrate their readiness for the classroom. It is an effective measure of entry-level teaching skills and readiness for the classroom regardless of the path candidates take to becoming teachers.

Currenty, in Ohio, the edTPA is in a pilot phase for the Fall 2012 semester. The Departments of Education and Music Education at the College of Wooster require all student teaching candidates to complete the edTPA during the student teaching experience.