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What is the edTPA?

According to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, "the edTPA is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by more than 600 teacher preparation programs in some 40 states to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from Day 1 in the classroom.

Developed by educators for educators, edTPA is the first such standards-based assessment to become nationally available in the United States. It builds on decades of work on assessments of teacher performance and research regarding teaching skills that improve student learning.

It is transforming the preparation and certification of new teachers by complementing subject-area assessments with a rigorous process that requires teacher candidates to demonstrate that they have the classroom skills necessary to ensure students are learning."

What is the role of edTPA at JCU?

The edTPA is a capstone assessment required in the Teacher Education licensure programs. The purpose of edTPA is to assess novice teachers’ readiness to teach their particular subject area(s) and particular grade levels. This assessment takes place during the second semester of the clinical year, during student teaching. Throughout the program you will engage in courses and practica to help you prepare for this assessment.

 

You can read more about the edTPA in the Teacher Education handbook.