Miami Dade College’s School of Education Baccalaureate Program Ranks Best in State at Improving Student Performance
Miami, October 10, 2011 - Recent graduates of Miami Dade College’s (MDC) School of Education’s bachelor degree program have a lot to celebrate following their first year of teaching. According to data released from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), MDC’s graduates who spent their first year teaching in Florida public schools saw major increases in their own students’ performance on the FCAT and other standardized tests. In fact, MDC topped the FLDOE report.
The study examines first year teachers enrolled in MDC’s Educator Preparation Institute (EPI), an intensive competency-based program designed to allow individuals with non-education bachelor’s degrees to earn teacher certification in an accelerated mode.
“We are proud that the teachers of MDC are doing a great job teaching and that students are doing well on the FCAT,” said Dr. Susan Neimand, director of MDC’s School of Education.
“What this study proves is that the intensity and depth of training and preparation our students are given during their time in the School of Education leads to measurable results,” she added.
“These results are indicative that we are on the right track academically in preparing new educators for today’s classroom and helping children succeed. We are proud that the teachers of MDC are doing a great job teaching and their students are doing well on the FCAT.”
The EPI program consists of extensive coursework in the field of education, the Florida Teacher Certification Examination, a portfolio of accomplished practices, workshops and mentoring.
According to the FLDOE survey, MDC saw a higher percentage of its teachers with greater student achievement.
MDC offers several programs in education, including Associate’s and several Bachelor of Science degrees in Education, and coming in 2012, a four-year degree in Early Childhood Education.
For more information about MDC’s School of Education, please visit http://www.mdc.edu/main/educationbs/ or call 305-237-6203.
Media-only contacts:
Juan Mendieta, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu, MDC communications director
Tere Estorino, 305-237-3949, testorin@mdc.edu, MDC media relations director
Tarnell Carroll, 305-237-3359, tcarroll@mdc.edu, media specialist
Sue Arrowsmith, 305-237-3710, sue.arrowsmith@mdc.edu, media specialist