The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) ranked the Reading Education master’s program at FIU’s College of Education as the No. 1 teacher preparation program in the State of Florida.
The rankings, which were issued for the first time by the FLDOE, are based on the success of students who graduated from each program.
FIU’s Reading Education master’s program was the only teacher preparation program in Florida to earn maximum scores in the areas of student achievement on statewide assessments; student achievement on statewide assessment by subgroups; teacher annual evaluations; teacher retention; and teacher placement.
“I’m proud to see that our graduates are making a real impact in the lives of their students,” said Delia C. Garcia, dean of the College of Education. “The instructional practices modeled in the program are preparing teachers to make a difference in the academic achievement of students, particularly those who are struggling with literacy needs. We are committed to incorporating specific clinical experiences that enhance the knowledge base and skills of our graduates.”
Garcia and the faculty point to the rigors of the graduate reading program as the reason why its graduates are so successful. Teachers in FIU’s graduate program learn to assess and instruct all students – including those who are in special education and ESOL programs– based on their needs. They complete internships at the elementary and high school level to more effectively motivate and engage students in grades K-12.
College of Education faculty who teach in the program are active in the field and continuously review the program to incorporate the latest research and best practices in reading education. For example, instructors use the latest methods and technology including smart boards and iPads to teach comprehension and problem-solving tasks.
“We feel validated,” said Associate Professor Joyce Fine, who leads the program. “We’ve worked very hard to create an excellent curriculum because we are dedicated to developing candidates who are very capable of not only teaching anyone and everyone to read, but of coaching other teachers to become better at teaching reading.”
The full DOE Annual Performance Program Report is available here.
