2. Identifying Strategies and Resources To Meet the Challenges of the PRAXIS Examinations for Teachers Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network August 28 – 29, 2009 Daphne Buckley, Director Office of Quality Professionals and Special Schools Mississippi Department of Education

3. What are the Challenges? Preparing Students for Success Ensuring Teacher Quality Encouraging PRAXIS Test Preparation Securing PRAXIS Test Resources

4. Preparing Students for Success Increase the rigor of the curriculum Increase the quantity and quality of teachers Promote student awareness about the profession

5. NAEP 2007 Grade 4 Mathematics National Average - 239 Top 10 States 1.Massachusetts 252 2.New Jersey 249 3.New Hampshire249 4.Kansas248 5.Minnesota247 6.Vermont246 7.North Dakota245 8.Indiana245 9.Ohio245 10.Wisconsin244 Bottom 10 States 43. Hawaii 234 44. Tennessee233 45. Arizona 232 46. Nevada232 47.Louisiana230 48.California 230 49.Alabama 229 50.New Mexico228 51.Mississippi228 52.District of Columbia214 Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2007 Reading Assessment.

6. NAEP 2007 Grade 8 Mathematics National Average - 280 Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2007 Mathematics Assessment. Top 10 States 1.Massachusetts 298 2.Minnesota 292 3.North Dakota 292 4.Vermont 291 5.Kansas290 6.New Jersey289 7.South Dakota 288 8.Virginia 288 9.New Hampshire 288 10.Montana 287 Bottom 10 States 43. Arkansas 274 44. Louisiana272 45. Nevada 271 46. California270 47. West Virginia 270 48. Hawaii269 49. New Mexico 268 50. Alabama 266 51. Mississippi 265 52. District of Columbia248

7. Focus on Teacher Quality Teacher Preparation Teacher Recruitment – GIFT Mississippi – Critical Shortage Act Teacher Support – Mississippi Beginning Support Program

8. Mississippi Teacher Workforce 38 Teacher Education Candidates Admitted in 2006 - 2007 37 Teacher Candidates Completed Math Programs in 2006 – 2007 MS issued _____ Interim Licenses in Mathematics

9. Teacher Preparation Blue Ribbon Committee on the Redesign of Teacher Education Traditional Preparation Programs Alternative Route Preparation Programs Praxis Workshops for Prospective Teachers

10. Teacher Recruitment GIFT Mississippi Critical Needs Scholarship Program Mississippi Teacher Fellowship Program Alternate Route Loan Forgiveness Program

11. Teacher Support Mississippi Beginning Teacher Support Program Selected Professional Development for Teachers

12. Focus on Test Preparation Look for test preparation materials – Free materials from ETS Test at a Glance – Study Guides and Practice Test – Workshops at local universities Source: Educational Testing Service

13. Praxis I: Mathematics – Test At A Glance (TAAG) Time Topics Sample Test Questions Develop a Study Plan Source: Educational Testing Service

14. Praxis I: Mathematics Create a Plan of Study – Content Areas – Strengths and Weaknesses – Available Resources – Schedule – Group Study – Review Previous Score Reports Source: Educational Testing Service

15. Prepare a Plan of Action Sample Test - www.ets.org/praxis/testprep

16. PRAXIS Test Resources Free Test Preparation Materials PRAXIS Website Source: Educational Testing Service

17. PRAXIS Test Taking Tips Don’t Worry Watch Your Time Read Carefully Consider Key Words Eliminate When You Can Source: Educational Testing Service

18. Helping Our Students to Meet the Challenge Work to ensure that students are prepared to enter the profession Provide support and professional development for teachers in the content area Provide guidance and support to prospective teachers Help candidates to find resources

19. Meeting the Mathematical Challenge of the Praxis Examinations Preparation Organization Practice