Texas Christian University - News and Events

College of Education earns national recognition for literacy

Fort Worth, TX

6/5/2009

TCU’s College of Education received the highest award bestowed upon any university in the field of undergraduate reading education from the International Reading Association. The award was presented at the 53rd annual International Reading Association conference in Minneapolis, Minn.

The College of Education is only the sixth recipient of the International Reading Association’s prestigious Certificate of Distinction, which honors outstanding preparation of future reading teachers.

The International Reading Association is a nonprofit, global network of individuals and institutions committed to worldwide literacy. The organization’s 85,000 members represent every United States university and most international universities with teacher education programs, as well as major school districts in the U.S.

A campus visit by evaluators cited numerous reasons why TCU’s College of Education is distinctive, including:

* Commitment to individualizing its teacher education program
* Requiring each student to have a specialization in either special education or English Language Learners upon graduation
* Providing diversity through each course, sequencing a highly effective practicum experience and the high quality of teaching and faculty research

“We are so honored to represent TCU internationally with this highly prestigious award. We have been told that other universities will be contacting us to come for site visits so as to strengthen their undergraduate efforts to create the best possible educators,” said Cathy Block, Ph.D., professor of education at TCU.

Each graduate of TCU’s Early Childhood to Grade 6 program from 2009-2016 will receive an International Reading Association Certificate of Distinction with his or her TCU diploma.

Because the ability to teach reading and math are the most important qualities that school districts are seeking, TCU graduates will be among the most sought after throughout their careers, Block said, and this distinction will only help the graduates.