University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Earns National Recognition for Preparing Future Elementary Teachers in the Science of Reading
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Earns National Recognition for Preparing Future Elementary Teachers in the Science of Reading
University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s elementary education program achieves top marks in new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality
The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for how well they prepare future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.
- Education Major, BS in Education – Elementary Education Concentration (Five-Year Internship Specialization): A+ (View grade page)
The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, spotlights UT for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.
A child’s ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life, yet according to NAEP data, four in ten fourth graders in Tennessee cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that—but only if it is aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.
The university is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide, helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.
“I am incredibly proud of our literacy teacher educators, whose deep understanding of the science of reading shapes how they prepare teachers to effectively teach reading and writing,” said UT College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences dean Ellen McIntyre. “As leaders in this field, they are committed to continually learning and advancing evidence-based methods. This work is challenging, but nothing is more essential than ensuring every child develops strong reading skills that provide the foundation for lifelong learning.”
“Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,” said NCTQ President Heather Peske. “Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”
NCTQ’s methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates, and measurement experts. To evaluate the quality of preparation being provided, a team of experts at NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments, and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates at UT.
To earn an “A,” programs needed to demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction. To earn an A+, programs needed to exceed those targets and not teach any instructional practices that are unsupported by research.
“We are honored that our program received an A+ in NCTQ’s 2026 Teacher Prep Review,” said David Cihak, associate dean and director of the David T. Bailey Graduate School of Education. “This recognition reflects the strong commitment of our faculty, program leaders, school partners, and the educator preparation team to ensuring that aspiring teachers are prepared to provide explicit, evidence-based reading instruction. We are especially proud that this work contributes to the broader goal of strengthening reading outcomes for students in Tennessee and beyond.”
See NCTQ’s report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, for more information about the University of Tennessee’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how the University of Tennessee compares to other programs in Tennessee or across the country.
About NCTQ
The National Council on Teacher Quality: NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization on a mission to ensure every child has access to an effective teacher and every teacher has the opportunity to be effective. We believe a strong, diverse teacher workforce is critical for providing all students with equitable educational opportunities. For more information about NCTQ, visit www.nctq.org.