Assessments
Throughout the teacher education program a variety of assessments are used to evaluate candidate knowledge, skills, and dispositions. In addition they are used to determine the effectiveness of the programs and make programmatic changes to keep pace with the needs of a dynamic educational community.
Candidates at Boise State University are well prepared to teach students. Visit Teacher Education Requirements (GATES) to see a summary of requirements. The following instruments are used to indicate the knowledge, skills and dispositions of teacher education candidates.
- PRAXIS I Writing – Required of all students wishing to enter the Elementary and Secondary Teacher Education Programs. Information on registering for the Praxis I Writing exam can be found on the ETS website.
- PRAXIS I Math – Required of all students wishing to enter the Elementary Education, Early Childhood Studies, Bilingual/ESL Education, or Special Education Programs. Information on registering for the Praxis I Math exam can be found on the ETS website.
- Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment – All three Standards are required of all students to advance into the Professional Year in the Elementary Education, Early Childhood Studies, Bilingual/ESL Education, or Special Education Programs. Information on registering for the ICLA’s can be found on the literacy website.
- PRAXIS II Subject Area Assessments -Candidates are required to demonstrate their content knowledge mastery by successfully completing the PRAXIS II Subject Area Assessment. Information on registering for the Praxis II exam can be found on the ETS website.
- Education Disposition Assessment - The Technical Disposition Assessment evaluates a student’s disposition to be a teacher and is administered in various courses throughout the teacher education program.
- Professional Year: Intern/Student Teacher Assessment-Supervisors and mentor teachers use work samples, observations, conferences, the rubric, and their professional judgment to complete this assessment two times during the professional year.