Georgia College’s education programs score top rankings
Published 1:30 pm Monday, December 12, 2016
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The Georgia College early childhood education program was recently ranked first in Georgia and in the top 10 percent nationwide by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) in Washington D.C.
In a separate ranking, the university’s secondary education program was rated best in the nation for affordability by Guide to Online Schools, an affiliate of SR Education Group in Washington.
Last fall, the early childhood program also ranked fourth in the nation by Teacher.org based on a variety of data points, including Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the U.S. Department of Education data.
“We strive to have the best program in the nation for our teaching candidates and as part of Georgia College’s path to preeminence,” said Dr. Joseph Peters, dean of the John H. Lounsbury College of Education.
NCTQ looked at 875 undergraduate elementary teacher preparation programs. Georgia College’s early childhood program rated at the 92nd percentile nationwide – the only George school to make the top 10 percent. The study identified 16 Georgia programs that ranked at or below the 45th percentile.
The best programs graduate teachers who are prepared by evidence-based content and teaching methods, said Stephen Buckley, a spokesperson for NCTQ.
A key element of Georgia College’s success is its mentoring program, where a professor guides a cohort of students for two years as they teach in local schools. Only five percent of programs studied by NCTQ incorporated a mentor experience into curriculum.
“The unique combination of our faculty mentoring teacher candidates, while the candidates are immersed in courses and field experiences, has set us apart in these rankings. We’re pleased to be recognized,” said Dr. Holley Roberts, interim chair for teacher education.
The Guide to Online Schools puts out a list of 25 schools that are the most affordable and academically rigorous for online secondary education degrees. It ranked Georgia College as number one for affordability – with an annual tuition for a master’s starting at $5,184 a year.
