While the legislation authorized additional financial support for educational programs at institutions of higher education, it also required colleges and universities to implement accountability measures to ensure the quality of those programs. These exams meet the demand for accountability for quality teachers as we prepare new teachers to confront the new challenges of a new age. These test results are the first in a series of reports that will be released over the coming months. The Indiana Professional Standards Board will release comparison data for all Indiana educational institutions in October, which will be followed by a nationwide report from the U.S. Department of Education in April 2002. While pleased with the test results, Smith said he is reluctant to use these scores as an absolute indicator of success.
Test scores are simply snapshots of performance at a given point in time.
Teacher preparation programs are changing constantly, especially now as Indiana makes progress in reforming how Hoosier teachers are prepared, licensed, and nurtured with professional development. These scores, combined with other qualitative and quantitative indicators will offer a more holistic picture of educational success. It is that full spectrum picture that most interests all professional educators.