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Educator Preparation Program Data

State Board of Education State Report Cards on Educator Preparation Programs

Each year, the State Board of Education issues a report card of all educator preparation programs in Tennessee, detailing several aspects of the educator preparation programs including student information, employment of graduates, and the impact/effectiveness levels of graduates.

In 2017, 2018, and 2019, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville received the highest possible rating for teacher preparation in the state. From 2020-2022, overall ratings were not issued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The full Teacher Prep Report card is available for review.

CAEP Accountability Measures

University of Tennessee participates in both CAEP Accreditation and the Tennessee Comprehensive Review Process (TNCR). As a part of TNCR, we receive Annual Reports Data that are used to meet the CAEP Accountability Measures. Due to a delay in the TNCR Annual Reports, not all Accountability measures are updated to the most current data. We expect these updates to be posted no later than October 31, 2023.

The state of Tennessee and UT closely track and measure the impact of our teachers on P-12 student learning, growth, and development. Student growth and achievement attributed to their teachers is measured using the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (TVAAS). In addition to TVAAS, we track our candidate’s Observation Scores and their Levels of Effectiveness in their first three years of teaching.

Teachers prepared by UT demonstrate a positive impact on P-12 student learning.

TVAAS: Almost 60% of those completing our program showed a Level 3 or above performance level in their first year of teaching, as indicated by the most recent data available from the State. Levels 3, 4, and 5 are indicators of a teacher’s positive impact on student learning, as measured by the state’s standardized testing system. This is consistent with the state average of 60.1%

What is this metric?

This metric reports the percentage of cohort members who earned a student growth (TVAAS) score of at least a 3 (“At Expectations”) on a scale of 1-5. Only cohort members who teach a grade or subject that has a state assessment receive TVAAS scores. For most EPPs, this includes 25-50% of cohort members.

Previous year’s TVAAS/Value Added comparisons are available below.

2019 Value-Added Comparisons
2018 Value Added Comparisons
2017 Value Added Comparisons
2015 Value Added Comparisons
2014 Value Added Comparisons

In addition to demonstrating a positive impact on P-12 learning, graduates of UT teacher preparation programs demonstrate multiple measures of teaching effectiveness. In Tennessee, these measures of teaching effectiveness include teacher/classroom observation scores as well as each individual teacher’s Level of Effectiveness.

Teachers who were prepared by UT showed higher than average observation scores as well as higher than average Level of Effectiveness (LOE) scores.

Classroom Observations: Over 96% of teachers prepared by UT Meet or Exceed expectations in their classroom observations within their first three years of teaching. Additionally, almost 90% of teachers prepared by UT Meet or Exceed Expectations on their overall Level of Effectiveness within their first three years of teaching. More information is available here.

Previous year’s measures of teaching effectiveness are available:

2021 Measures of Teaching Effectiveness
2020 Measures of Teaching Effectiveness

Both initial teacher preparation and advanced educator preparation programs survey employers to ensure their satisfaction with the preparation programs.

For initial programs, a survey is sent each spring to a wide range of principals, assistant principals, and district level leaders who employ graduates of our teacher education programs. The feedback from this survey is analyzed both for the program as a whole, and also disaggregated to specific program areas, for the purpose of informing evidence-based improvements to our teacher preparation programs.

For years (2015-present), the vast majority of respondents (over 97%) have reported being satisfied or highly satisfied with the preparation of UT teacher education graduates. Full survey results for 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are linked below:

Spring 2021 Employer Partner Survey

Spring 2020 Employer Partner Survey

2019 Employer Survey

2017 Employer Survey

2015 Employer Survey

Stakeholder Involvement

Twice each academic year, the UT Educator Preparation program holds meetings of the Council for the Improvement of Professional Education. This Council consists of School and District Leaders, Mentor Teachers and Mentor Principals, Community Organizations, and Faculty, Instructors, and Supervisors who work within the EPP. UTK shares program data during these meetings and asks for feedback regarding program improvement. Every major proposed program change (including curricular changes, creation and use of assessments, and standards alignments) is presented to this Council for feedback and input prior to implementation.

Presentations from our most recent CIPE meetings are available here:

CIPE Spring 2022
CIPE Fall 2021
CIPE Spring 2021

The Tennessee Educator Preparation Report Card provides a public view of the competencies of our candidates at program completion, as measured by multiple exams and assessments required to obtain teacher or leader licensure.

For the 2020-2021 Academic year, 100% of UTK Teacher Candidates passed the Praxis PLT or edTPA. 95.4% of UTK teacher candidates passed the Praxis Subject Area/Content KNowledge Assessment, and 98.5% of teacher candidates passed the Praxis Literacy Instruction Assessment. All of these are higher than the state average pass-rate of 92.2% More information is available here. 

For the 2020-2021 Academic Year, 100% of our Instructional leadership candidates passed the Praxis School Leaders Licensure Assessment, demonstrating that they have the competencies to lead schools at program completion. More information is available here. 

Moving beyond content area and pedagogical assessment, UTK uses the Professional Competencies, Attitudes, and Dispositions (ProCADS) framework to ensure that all teacher candidates graduate from our programs with the full skill set needed to be an effective professional educator. 100% of graduating UTK teacher candidates must demonstrate proficiency in their professional competencies, attitudes, and dispositions as assessed by themselves, their Mentor Teacher, and their University-based supervisor before teacher licensure will be issued or advanced. More information is available here. 

For initial teacher preparation programs, employment milestones (such as initial employment and retention) are reported in the Educator Preparation Report Card.

The most recent report card shows that the rate of first year employment in Tennessee public schools among UT program completers is 78.1%, second year retention is 93.9%, and third year retention is 86.4% (higher than the state average of 81%.) One note is that these data only counts UT graduates who are hired in Tennessee public schools. Accounting for all teacher education graduates, including those who accept positions in private schools, charter schools, or schools that are out of the state of Tennessee results in higher employment rates for our graduates.

For leadership preparation programs, the 100% pass rate on the required Praxis exam indicates the ability of candidates to be hired in the leadership/administration positions for which they have prepared.

Additional employment milestones and demonstration that program completers are hired into positions for which they have been prepared are available here.