AASCU, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin System, has received a $591,825 grant over the next three years to create common accountability measures in preparing future mathematics and science teachers. Wisconsin’s Grassroots Teacher Quality Assessment (TQA) Model project is designed to create reliable performance assessment tools used during student teaching. The assessments will document how well prospective teachers attain relevant math and science knowledge and skills, and information gathered will serve as a guide for ongoing changes in teacher preparation and professional development.

Mona Wineburg, AASCU’s former director of teacher education, and a project director says, “This project will assist universities in the University of Wisconsin System build scientific rigor into teacher performance assessments so that program improvement and accountability efforts will stand on a strong foundation of evidence.”

Wineburg notes that “This project follows the work AASCU began with the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Awards in 2002, the survey project, Credible and Persuasive Evidence: Creating a Dialogue and Design for Evidence in Teacher Education Programs, and the Wingspread Conference, Preparing, Retaining and Supporting a High Quality Teacher Workforce.   It will result in a set of tool and processes that can be implemented across all Wisconsin teacher preparation programs with the potential for national replication.”

The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE).