Delivering Well Prepared Teachers Policy
Alaska does not require that teacher preparation programs for
elementary teacher candidates address the science of reading. The state has
neither coursework requirements nor standards related to this critical area.
Alaska also does not require teacher candidates to pass an assessment
that measures knowledge of scientifically based reading instruction prior to
certification or at any point thereafter.
Ensure that teacher preparation programs prepare elementary teaching candidates in the science of reading instruction.
Alaska should require that teacher preparation programs in the state train
candidates in the five instructional components of scientifically based reading
instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and
comprehension.
Require teacher candidates to pass a rigorous assessment in the science of reading instruction.
Alaska should require a rigorous reading assessment tool to ensure that
its elementary teacher candidates are adequately prepared in the science of
reading instruction before entering the classroom. The assessment
should clearly test knowledge and skills related to the science of reading, and
if it is combined with an assessment that also tests general pedagogy or
elementary content, it should report a subscore for the science of reading
specifically. Elementary teachers who do not possess the minimum knowledge in
this area should not be eligible for licensure.
Alaska recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.