Since 2006, The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has reviewed elementary teacher preparation programs from around the country to highlight best practices and make recommendations.

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In June 2023, they published an updated review of nearly 700 undergraduate and graduate level programs, looking at whether their early reading coursework uses the most up-to-date, scientifically-based principles of reading instruction. 

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Relay Graduate School of Education earned an ‘A’ grade - one of only two programs in New York state to receive that level or higher.

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“Over the previous five years, Relay has undertaken a comprehensive revision of our curriculum, including our elementary reading coursework,” said Dr. Mayme Hostetter, President of Relay. “We are committed to ensuring every Relay-trained teacher  is equipped to help their students become lifelong readers, and we are thrilled to have that external affirmation from NCTQ’s rigorous evaluation process.”

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For over two years, NCTQ worked with educators, literacy researchers, teacher preparation leaders, policy makers and more to develop a new methodology for their analysis. A team of experts then reviewed whether each program’s early reading coursework covers five core components of scientifically-based reading instruction (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension), as reflected in four instructional approaches (instructional hours, assigned readings, assignments and assessments, and opportunities to practice). 

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NCTQ found that Relay’s programs contain evidence of exemplary practices in how the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy are taught.

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Additionally, NCTQ looked at whether programs prepare teachers to support a range of learners, including struggling readers, English Language Learners, and learners who speaks varieties other than mainstream English (e.g. speakers of African American English or Appalachian English) These areas are not factored into the overall score, but they can be useful for understanding the institution’s approach to culturally responsive and inclusive teaching. 

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Relay’s early reading programs earned points that place it in the 81st percentile for supporting English Language Learners and in the 98th percentile for supporting speakers of varieties of English. NCTQ noted that “programs’ attention to this group is nascent”, meaning that Relay is one of only a few programs currently incorporating training for this group of students.

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NCTQ emphasizes the clear importance of this work, as more than one third of fourth grade students nationally cannot read at a basic level. They rightly note the importance of teacher preparation programs in shifting their approach to scientifically-based principles of reading instruction, high quality teaching materials, and ample opportunities for teachers to practice their skills.

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Yet their analysis found that only 25% of programs across the country adequately cover all five core components - and only 10% of graduate programs did so. Relay’s A grade places it in that 10%.

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Relay’s faculty look forward to remaining up-to-speed on the latest research in the science of reading, and even applying those lessons to how we teach reading into the middle and high school grades - to meet all learners where they are at and move them to their grade-level and beyond. We will continue to learn alongside other exemplary teacher preparation programs to ensure every child sees themselves as a reader.