College of Education Assessment Office
The Assessment Office handles daily operations associated with assessment and accreditation for educator preparation programs in the College of Education Key functions of the Assessment Office include:
- Ensures that the college and its departments comply with the assessment standards of relevant accrediting bodies, including the Council for the Accreditation Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
- Serve as a resource for updated assessment-related information associated with AAQEP, Middle States, and the Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs) – e.g., National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Council for Exceptional Children, etc.
- Analyze and compile data from campus systems, internal databases, and the LiveText portfolio system to support ongoing assessment, accreditation, and program improvements.
- Maintain program and College-level data for all professional educator programs.
- Assist programs with data collection and program reporting associated with the Middle States Learning Outcomes Assessment Plans.
- Overseeing the ongoing development and implementation of the College’s LiveText Assessment and Accreditation Management system
- Collaborate with the College’s edTPA Office to provide ongoing coordination and logistical support.
- Oversee survey operations and compile course evaluation data to research its teacher preparation and other programs.
- Prepare the Title II, AAQEP Annual Report, Middle States, Traditional Program Annual Report (TPAR), US News & World report submission, and other external data reports.
- Convene and provide assessment data for college-wide and district committees.
- Leverage partnerships for professional development schools and K-12 teacher education.
- Manage, collaborate, and/or assist with the Middle College Program and its initiatives
- Manage Atlas Case Study CoE subscriptions and assist faculty as needed.
PRAXIS
COVID-19 Related Updates
ETS now offers at-home testing for Praxis and School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) exams, while some test centers are closed.
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The exams have identical content, format, and on-screen experience to the Praxis or SLS tests taken at a test center.
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Students can take the exam on their computers at home or in another secure location.
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A human proctor monitors the exams online through ProctorU®.
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Candidates should add their state licensure agency or relevant association as a score recipient, as there is no “Automatic Score Reporting” for at-home tests.
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Candidates can add four score recipients for free until three days after testing by contacting Praxis Customer Service.
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Candidates only need to visit their ETS account to complete their registration and request accommodations.
- Using only their ETS account, candidates can now reschedule, cancel or modify testing dates and pay for tests. ProctorU will still administer the test and help with equipment checks and technical support.
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The time between retakes is 28 days.
Beginning as early as July 2021, there will now be more than 120 Praxis tests offered at home. For more detailed information regarding at-home testing, view the ETS website.
In-Person Testing
There are nine location sites in Maryland that are allowing for in-person testing. These are listed below.
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Address |
City |
State |
Program Availability |
Site Occupancy Status |
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1501 South Clinton St. 2nd Floor, Canton Crossing |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
All Programs |
Full Occupancy |
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8120 Woodmont Avenue Suite 510 |
Bethesda |
Maryland |
All Programs |
Limited Occupancy |
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6304 Woodside Court |
Columbia |
Maryland |
All Programs |
Full Occupancy |
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4301 Garden City Dr, Suite 203-Metro 400 |
Hyattsville |
Maryland |
All Programs |
Full Occupancy |
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1322 Belmont Ave. Suite 203 |
Salisbury |
Maryland |
All Programs |
Full Occupancy |
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8601 LaSalle Road Suite 203 |
Towson |
Maryland |
All Programs |
Full Occupancy |
| 14000 Jericho Park Road | Bowie | Maryland | All Programs | Full Occupancy |
| 2112 Shoemaker Building | College Park | Maryland | All Programs | Full Occupancy |
| 7009 Arundel Mills Circle | Hanover | Maryland | All Programs | Full Occupancy |
| 3825 Leonardtown Road Suite 2 | Waldorf | Maryland | All Programs | Full Occupancy |
You must bring a face mask to the test center, regardless of local policy. If you come to the test center without a face mask, you will get turned away. The center or local policy determines the requirements for wearing a face cover for your time at the test center’s entire time. As a precautionary measure, you can choose to wear a mask during testing if the test center or local policy does not require it. Both medical masks and cloth face coverings are acceptable.
You are also allowed to bring/wear rubber gloves, but gloves are not required.
Some test centers require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within a specific time frame before testing, for entrance to the test center. Be sure to check with your local test center for a complete list of health and safety procedures required for admission to the test center.
Check-in and Testing Room Info:
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During check-in, you must stand on a "stand here" sign or "X" in place on the floor, designating a safe distance away from the test center staff.
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Routine visual inspections — including emptying your pockets, raising your pant legs above your ankles and pulling up your sleeves above your wrists, and presenting your glasses for a quick search — will be performed by test center staff from the designated safe distance area.
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Test Center staff will complete your image capture from the same position. You will need to lower or remove your mask momentarily for this process.
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Temporarily, ETS will accept ID documents that expire on February 1, 2020, and later for testing.
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ETS may opt to waive specific standard check-in measures that require close personal contact to ensure safe distancing practices,
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As usual, test centers will provide scratch paper, pens, or pencils.
End of Test Info:
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Test center staff will control access to the lockers or storage area to maintain social distancing while you retrieve your belongings.
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If a test center has a log sheet that requires you to sign in/out, you will use the pen or pencil given to you at check-in. Once you have finished with the pencil, be sure to place it in the holding tub.
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You must return all scratch paper by placing it in the secure bin or location as instructed by test center staff.
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Test center staff will clean all surfaces, including each workstation and the administrative desk, at the test day’s start and end and between test sessions. They will use gloves when cleaning the pens/pencils and putting them back into stock.
Disabilities Accommodation Requests|
Please submit all disability accommodation requests and supporting documents electronically to ensure that ETS can receive your application. Due to limited staffing, there could be delays in processing accommodation requests. Submit via your Praxis account.
General Information
The Praxis® exams consist of a series of tests to measure the academic skills and subject-specific content knowledge needed for teaching. Individuals must pass the exams or an equivalent assessment to enter the teaching profession as part of the certification process required by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for licensure. The exams fall into two categories:
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Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) — comprehensive assessments that measure candidates’ skills and content knowledge entering teacher preparation programs
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Praxis® Subject Assessments — tests that measure general and subject-specific content knowledge that you need for beginning teaching.
Please refer to the State Department’s website for eligibility standards, certification requirements, passing score thresholds, and reciprocity agreements. The following links provide greater detail into each aspect of the examination process.
Here is some pertinent information in regards to Praxis test preparation:
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Due to test postponements resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19), ETS offers a 30% discount on Praxis and SLS Interactive Practice Tests and has extended the subscription to 180 days 15 uses. Please enter the code PRACTICE at checkout to receive the reduced price.
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Praxis Test Preparation Webinars
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Free webinars with in-depth information and demonstration
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Free and fee-based Praxis test prep resources
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Praxis Learning Paths Program
The Praxis® Learning Paths™ Program is a new way to prepare and strengthen teacher candidates’ skills that are assessed through the Praxis® tests. The program is administered through asynchronous and online courses that can be done at the candidate’s own pace, setting, and convenience.
- Currently, the course offerings are only supported for Elementary Education Mathematics Course:
- Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Mathematics Subtest (5003)
- Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle Mathematics test (5903)
- Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Test, Math section (5018).
The Praxis® Learning Paths™ Program also presents a dashboard and diagnostics so progress can be tracked and areas that need improvement can be identified. There are many interactive lessons featured in the program, along with practice test questions, instructional videos, full-length timed practice tests and more. Through University Instructors®, there is also a “One-on-One Coaching” option created in order to boost the learning experience. There are presently two coaches, Alicia Chiasson and Symantha Muñoz O'Byrne, who both have 20+ years of experience in the classroom. The coaches are available to provide personalized and targeted guidance for the teacher candidates.
The School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA)
The School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) exam tests explicitly for certification as an Administrator II (principal). Click the following link for more information:
GRE Exam Testing Updates
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The At-home tests will continue as a of the ETS's product portfolio.
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The Subject Tests will not be offered online at this time.
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Students who have already registered are being informed of the cancellations and their test fees will be refunded.
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The next opportunity to take the GRE Subject Tests will be April 2021.
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The General Test continues to be available to students around the world to take either at home or at a test center.
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There’s availability for the General Test through the end of September, but ETS intends to offer the at home test for as long as COVID-19 is a concern.
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The General Test at home test remains available even in areas where test centers have reopened.
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Half of our computer-based test center networks outside of China have reopened - openings vary by country.
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All of the test centers in the ETS network are following rigorous preventive measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
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In July, testing resumed in Mainland China, and ETS has added additional dates through the end of the year in collaboration with the government's National Education Examinations Authority.
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To provide a more seamless experience for test-takers, ETS aligned the registration process for testing at home to testing at a center. Also, test takers can choose from available at-home testing dates six months in the future (currently through July 2021). Future at-home testing dates will continue to open monthly on a rolling basis.
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ETS is automatically rescheduling tests, returning test fees, or providing a free, self-serve reschedule link for any test takers that need to reschedule their exams. There is no extra fee for this.
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Fee reduction vouchers could be available for eligible test takers. They can be used for all GRE tests. Visit Fee Reduction Program for more information.
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The at-home tests for the TOEFL iBT® test and GRE® General Test will be permanent even if COVID goes away.
- Tests are now available on MACs as well as PCs.
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Test taker capacity has increased and the registration deadline has reduced.
Here is some pertinent information in regards to GRE test preparation:
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To learn more about the at home test, register for an upcoming webinar or visit the web pages for Institutions and GRE Test Takers.
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The GRE Program has introduced free GRE test preparation modules for advisors and educators who conduct workshops with students.
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Test Centers and Dates to find current available seats for the GRE exams.
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Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs.
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ETS is posting videos, developing registration checklists, and hosting Facebook Live Events in order to help test takers understand the new online testing process.
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Students can access free test prep resources directly on the GRE website
American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) requires World Language teaching candidates to demonstrate their ability to use language for real-world purposes to obtain certification. ACTFL Proficiency Tests reflect and measure the candidate's ability to carry out these real-world tasks. Click the following link for more information:
| SECTION I: PASS RATES ON MD TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMS | SECTION II: PROGRAM INFORMATION | SECTION III: CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION | SECTION IV: DATA TABLE - ATTACHMENT | SECTION V: TITLE II REPORT MAY 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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SECTION I: PASS RATES ON MD TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMS
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SECTION II: PROGRAM INFORMATION
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SECTION III: CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION The College of Education is committed to providing teacher education programs that foster development of critical knowledge and skills needed to effectively teach all children, PreK-12, in our diverse and multicultural society. Our programs reflect the College of Education's mission of excellence and equity through research, teaching, and service. We are committed to drawing upon research to improve our practice. Our professional preparation programs include rigorous and relevant coursework and field experiences to help our students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for successful teaching careers. The teacher preparation programs at the University of Maryland (UMD) engage students in both content and pedagogical knowledge through a combination of rigorous academic coursework and multiple field experiences in diverse classroom settings. These complementary experiences enhance our graduates’ commitment to the education profession and help to advance their students’ learning and development, while fostering equity in the schools where they work. As a result of this thorough preparation in both content and pedagogy, our graduates enter the teaching profession ready to embrace their responsibility for advancing the learning and development of their PreK-12 students, advocate for equity in the school districts and classrooms where they work, and lead others toward these same goals. We are committed to excellence and equity for our faculty, staff and students. Our goal is not solely to prepare good educators, but to prepare exceptional educators who understand teaching and learning and commit themselves to meet the needs of a diverse student body within the community and schools in which they work. Our programs help meet the growing need for teachers of English Learners and students with disabilities--in both specialized and inclusive classrooms. We take a critical look at technology in the classroom, investigating what advances learning and supports teacher-identified needs, as we develop educators prepared for the classrooms of today. Our innovative teacher education programs are designed to broaden and sustain the educator pipeline, whether through dual degree programs for high schoolers, programs that bring para-educators into the teaching field, or certificate programs that serve existing teachers' needs. OUR VISION As a visible leader and go-to source for research and evidence-based innovations in education and human development, the University of Maryland College of Education will fearlessly lead efforts to transform educational contexts and learning experiences. Our work will expand access to high quality educational opportunities that empower individuals to reach their goals and contribute to the broader civic, democratic, and economic goals of society. 1 OUR MISSION The mission of the College of Education is to enhance the lives of individuals, families, schools, and communities through our research, teaching, and engagement. We create knowledge about critical facets of education and human development, and share that knowledge to improve lives in Maryland and throughout the broader national and international community. We prepare students to be the next generation of scholars, educators, and transformative leaders. The college programs prepare educators, counselors, psychologists, administrators, researchers, and educational specialists. Graduates work with individuals from infancy through adulthood in schools, community agencies, colleges, and universities. Educational programs are accredited and approved by the following: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the American Psychological Association. The college is ranked among the top schools of education in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The unit is directed by the Dean of the College of Education, Jennifer King Rice, Ph.D. The University of Maryland, College Park provides unique opportunities to obtain a high quality teacher education. The University's status as a Research, Flagship University means that faculty must demonstrate not only excellent teaching but must also conduct high quality research that advances knowledge about education. Maryland also offers highly diverse environments for practice and study in its urban and suburban school districts. Our programs encourage inquiry and reflection, teaching for understanding, embracing diversity and building democratic learning communities - the core tenets of successful teaching and learning. Education professionals assume many roles, and need to draw upon many types of knowledge including knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, learners, educational goals and assessment, social context, and pedagogy. The knowledge base from these areas, including that associated with the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Model Core Teaching Standards, has guided the development of performance standards in initial teacher preparation programs in the College. As part of the state flagship institution, the College creates model teaching and teacher preparation programs involving research and service in elementary (grades 1-6), middle level education (grades 4-9), secondary education (grades 7- 12), and special education. PreK-12 programs include art, dance, physical education, world language education, and teaching English to speakers of other languages. The School of Music offers a PreK-12 program in music education that also is affiliated with the College. The secondary education programs, which require a major in a content area associated with the teaching major, include English, mathematics, science (including agriculture), computer science, and social studies education. The special education programs lead to special education teacher certification in an early childhood or elementary/middle level area with an emphasis on severe disabilities. The College also offers a middle school program in mathematics and sciences, which prepares candidates to teach in middle school settings (grades 4- 9). Several programmatic initiatives are underway to strengthen teacher preparation. The following examples are illustrative: UMD has instituted a UTeach replication, Terrapin Teachers. This program is expected to increase the number of high-quality secondary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers and to expand the university's offerings that enable undergraduate students in STEM fields to receive both a subject-matter degree and teaching certification. Terrapin Teachers increases the engagement of our on- campus faculty and local school districts in the shared venture of preparing future STEM teachers who will help us make the Common Core State Standards in mathematics and the Next Generation Science Standards a reality. Terrapin Teachers is expected to lead to increases in STEM teacher production across all levels, but especially in the middle and secondary mathematics and science areas. UMD also is expanding development of cohort-based programs that meet specific school district needs and that will ensure a steady flow of student enrollments that reflect the diversity of Maryland’s P12 population. The College has been collaborating with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to design programs to help district para-professionals transition into teaching careers. Building upon the long-standing success of the Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE) program, which prepares para-educators to earn their teacher certification in elementary education, the College plans to not only increase the number of individuals who will be able to transition from being a paraprofessional to a fully certified elementary teacher, but also to increase the number of MCPS teachers who meet the qualifications to obtain an additional endorsement in special education or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Key program components include flexible curricular offerings that including online, hybrid and evening and weekend course work; a program structure that allows para-educators to use their existing classroom setting as early field experiences so that they can continue to receive pay and benefits through MCPS; and the use of a cohort model that encourages development of a professional learning community. UMD also is collaborating with Prince Georges County Public Schools (PGCPS) and Prince Georges Community College (PGCC) to develop an Early College program that will lead to an Associate of Arts degree in Middle School Mathematics and Science, Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education, or Elementary/Special Education. The start date for this initiative, which is designed to attract a more diverse candidate pool into STEM teaching and other critical shortage areas, was fall 2017, with the first students expected to matriculate at UMD with their Associate of Arts degree in fall 2021. The aim is to place these students in internships in PGCPS and to use these placements to actively recruit the candidates into teaching positions in the district. In addition to promoting grow-your-own programs in critical shortage areas, instituting major innovations in STEM teacher preparation, and offering more flexible curriculum options to meet the needs of support professionals in local school districts, the College recently completed a transformation of its early childhood and special education teacher preparation programs to launch a revised, truly blended early childhood, special education program that leads to dual certification. This program, which has been identified as a model for the State, allows graduates to be prepared to meet the needs of typically developing and atypically developing children from birth through age 8/grade 3. A unique aspect of the modified program is a focus on children who are at environmental risk due to poverty, immigration, and/or language. The College also is in the process of implementing a new program track in the special education program, which will qualify candidates for an additional certification in elementary education. UMD is continuing its work as one of the lead institutions for Maryland on a national initiative to implement edTPA, a performance-based teacher assessment system and licensure process for pre-service teachers. The College is one of the founding members of the Maryland edTPA Collaborative, and recently hosted the 2019 Mid-Atlantic edTPA Conference at UMD. The edTPA is a nationally- recognized and normed assessment that will allow us to compare our candidates with others around the country, ultimately raising the standard for teacher preparation on campus, in Maryland, and nationally. The edTPA is not only expected to play a major role in elevating the professional and pedagogical preparation we provide to our candidates, but also in documenting our graduates’ impact on PreK-12 student learning, which is a paramount concern for school systems. Also noteworthy, the College was recently awarded a three-year, $2,332,138 Teacher Collaborative Grant from the Maryland State Department of Education for its Maryland Professional Development Schools 2025 (MD PDS 2025) project. UMD is partnering with Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Public Schools and Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Education Associations to collaboratively reimagine Professional Development Schools to serve as hubs of learning for new and experienced teachers and teacher candidates. To achieve this goal, collaborators plan to offer innovative, site-based professional development for teachers and teacher candidates, tailored support for mentor teacher candidates, and a practicum that brings teacher preparation into the 21st century. Finally, a new partnership signed January 27, 2020 by the College of Education and Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will create joint faculty appointments, increase teacher and school leader training, and prioritize using evidence-based approaches to solving challenges such as the achievement gap and absenteeism. The new PGCPS/UMD Improvement Science Collaborative, based in the college’s Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement, will bring together researchers and experts with practitioners and school leaders and provide innovative educational and professional opportunities for graduate students as well as employees of the college and the school district. The CEii will serve as the planning hub for the PGCPS/UMD Improvement Science Collaborative, which is based on improvement science principles that bring together researchers and experts in co-equal partnership with practitioners and school leaders to create evidence-based approaches to solving pressing school issues. The partnership is committed to research that is directly relevant to local schools’ needs, as they identify them. The Collaborative will also focus on the preparation of high quality teachers and leaders, in line with the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission, which examined Maryland PreK-12 education practices, policies and funding to improve students’ college and career readiness. The CoE views this new partnership as a way to create a pipeline of highly effective and diverse educators who are prepared to address issues and challenges germane to PGCPS. |
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SECTION IV: DATA TABLE - ATTACHMENT Annual Institutional Questionnaire on Teacher Preparation: ACADEMIC YEAR: 2017-2018 The College of Education pass rates for program completers (as defined by Title II for USDE data reporting purposes) for the past three years follow:
Note: The overall pass rate is 100%. A small number of UMD’s program completers |
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SECTION V: TITLE II REPORT MAY 2020
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Students will use LiveText to complete their edTPA portfolio and document their performance on the Technical Standards/Foundational Competencies and the Maryland Teacher Technology Standards. For more information visit the College of Education LiveText webpage.
Please complete this form for requests, data, projects, and assistance from the Assessment Team https://go.umd.edu/
Contact Information:
| Ebony Terrell Shockley, Executive Director of Teacher Education | assessmentoffice@umd.edu |
| Donna North, Assessment Analyst | dnnorth@umd.edu |
| Christopher Cooks, Assistant Director of Assessment | cacooks@umd.edu |
| Stacy Currie, edTPA Coordinator | stacyrp@umd.edu |