University of North Texas’ educator preparation program on probation

JT Hammons · June 7

The Texas Education Agency has placed the University of North Texas’ educator preparation program on probation for the second consecutive year.

According to the TEA’s accountability system for teaching certification, a program can be put on probation “if the [program] accumulates less that 80% of the possible points in the Accountability System for Educator Preparation Index system” — that is, if too many students fail their exams. A program can also earn probation status by violating state certification rules or the Texas Education Code’s certification statutes.

Ruthanne Thompson, the interim dean of the UNT College of Education, said the probation came as a result of candidate performance.

“At this time, college and university officials are working with the TEA to resolve the matter,” Thompson said in a statement to the Denton Record-Chronicle. “The accreditation process is meant to improve the state’s education programs. They informed us of areas of needed improvement and have provided input on our plans and we are using this opportunity to improve teacher preparedness in support of the growing workforce needs of our region and state. We do expect to be back in compliance after this year’s review.”

The TEA accreditation dashboard didn’t indicate if UNT was deficient in content areas, such as math or language arts, or if it had violated state education certification board rules or the Texas Education Code. Thompson and university communications officials didn’t reply to a question regarding what deficiencies caused the probation, or other questions regarding the number of candidates who graduated with certifications during the 2023-24 school year.

Read more: https://www.ketr.org/2024-06-06/tea-places-unt-educator-preparation-program-on-probation-for-second-year-in-row

Edited June 7 by JT Hammons