OC’s students in the School of Teacher Education place third in Oklahoma

OC ranks in the 90th percentile for aggregate passing rate on required exams for students who are graduating and starting their careers as teachers.

April 2, 2020 - Oklahoma Christian University offers top-notch programs and classwork to challenge its students to excel in their future fields, and the School of Teacher Education is no exception. This year, the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability revealed OC as the third-highest teacher preparation program in the state for students’ aggregate pass rate on required exams. 

OEQA collects data through the statewide teacher certification testing for its annual report. This report is offered for public viewing online, ranking 23 colleges and universities throughout the state. OC was among the top three who scored within the 90 percentile or better. 

In preparation for state testing, OC offers tutoring for students before taking the second teaching exam, the OSAT, as well as the third exam, the OPTE. The department also requires many practicum hours before seniors are allowed to start student-teaching.

Chair of the School of Teacher Education Darin Martin was proud of OC’s placement, as the rankings showed the preparation and hard work that goes into OC’s state testing preparation.

“We always score quite well,” Martin said. “We have good students who work hard within our rigorous prep program. We’ve always been in the 90% range.”

Kyleigh Marquez, from the OC class of 2020, discussed how her teachers encouraged her through the testing process.

“Beyond the practical experiences, our professors and staff in the education program are the main reason we succeed,” Marquez said. “They are constant encouragers, supporters and probably our biggest fans. They want us to succeed, and they provide all of the tools, test preparation materials, resources and opportunities to succeed.”

OC loves to see how alumni are succeeding in their classrooms. While sad to say goodbye to the class of 2020, the program looks forward to encouraging next year’s seniors to continue OC’s tradition of education excellence.