SUNY New Paltz Teacher Candidates Excel in State Exams

NEW PALTZ — SUNY New Paltz education students scored higher on average in the 1999 New York Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTE) than students from other SUNY colleges and from colleges statewide. Robert J. Michael, dean of the School of Education, said that passage of the exams is required and preliminary to teacher certification.

“We are very proud of the high scores achieved by our students,” he said. “Congratulations to the liberal arts and education professors who work very hard with the students. In addition, recognition is given to our community college partners who prepare many of our students in the first two years of college.”

Dean Michael also noted that this high passing rate reflects the high quality of teachers being trained at SUNY New Paltz. He said, “The students have a strong background in the liberal arts and have a thorough understanding of current and effective teaching techniques. Furthermore, each student has a subject area major as part of the university training program.”

In the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), SUNY New Paltz education students had a 90 percent passing rate. This was compared to the overall SUNY passing rate of 86 percent, and a rate of 72 percent for colleges statewide. The components of this test include scientific and mathematical processes, historical and social scientific awareness, artistic expression and the humanities, communication skills, and written analysis and expression.

In the Elementary Education exam, SUNY New Paltz had a 93 percent passing rate, SUNY colleges had an 87 percent passing rate, and college statewide had a 72 percent passing rate.

The test results of the Elementary Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written indicated a 94 percent passing rate for SUNY New Paltz students, compared to a 93 percent passing rate for SUNY colleges, and an 82 percent rate for colleges statewide.

The test results of the Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written indicated a 91 percent passing rate for SUNY New Paltz, an 89 percent rate for SUNY colleges, and an 83 percent rate for colleges statewide.

The components of these tests include knowledge of the learner, instructional planning and assessment, instructional delivery, the professional environment, and written assignment.