Board of Regents Approves Exit Exam for Student Teachers

BROOKINGS—Starting in Fall 2000 all student teachers will be required to take a major field exit examination, according to action taken today by the South Dakota Board of Regents. The Regents, meeting on the campus of South Dakota State University, voted to impose the requirement that all undergraduate teacher education programs will test student teachers at the beginning of the semester in which they are student teaching in local school classrooms.

"Although the state Department of Education and Cultural Affairs, which actually certifies teachers, does not require the exam for certification, the Regents believe that this national exam will provide important information for the students and for the teacher education colleges," said Regents President Harvey C. Jewett, IV, Aberdeen.

The exam selected for this assessment is the Praxis II. "This test, produced by the Education Testing Service, will assess a student teacher’s knowledge of subject and knowledge of teaching skills," said Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry. "Several of South Dakota’s state universities already use the Praxis I examination as part of the requirements for admissions to the teacher education program. Forty-two states use the Praxis II for certification, so we will be able to compare scores of our students to national averages to see how we are doing."

In addition to assessment of individual performance and comparison of scores to national averages, the test will also allow the teacher education colleges to assess their own curriculum. "If the test results show that our student teachers consistently have difficulties in certain areas, then we will know that those areas of the discipline needs evaluation and improvement. The test will also provide required information for reporting to accrediting agencies," said Perry.

For more information contact: Dr. Robert T. Tad Perry, Executive Director, or Dr. Lesta Turchen, Senior Administrator, South Dakota Board of Regents, (605) 773-3455.

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