AY23/24 CAEP Accountability Measures

The UAF School of Education measures satisfaction of employers through a supervisor survey developed by the Network for Excellence in Teaching (NExT - https://www.nexteachers.org/surveys-1). The NExT Supervisor Survey, administered every spring, asks employers of teachers who graduated from UAF School of Education teaching licensure programs (Initial and Advanced) to rate new teacher preparedness across a series of skills. 

The NExT Surveys group teacher skills into 4 domains: Instructional Practice (based on 21 skills), Diverse Learners (based on 9 skills), Learning Environment (based on 9 skills), and Professionalism (based on 6 skills). Across these domains, the majority of responding supervisors report satisfaction with new teacher performance, and with the performance of newly endorsed Special Education teachers. Below in Figure 1 are the spring 2024 NExT Supervisor Survey results from 2022/23 alumni (2023/24 first year teachers) from Elementary, Secondary, Special Education, and Music programs.

In addition to soliciting feedback through surveys, the UAF School of Education hosts program specific External Advisor Committees (EACs) to gather focused feedback on the Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education programs to ensure programs continue to meet district needs. Each EAC meets two times a year. Membership represents school districts from Fairbanks, Southcentral Alaska, and rural communities. Members include recent alumni, mentor teachers, and administrators. See Figure 2 for topics and actionable items from EAC meetings in AY2023/24. 

Candidates in their final semester of their program are actively involved in student teaching. To assess candidate skills and dispositions in the classroom, both initial and advanced candidates complete three culminating assessments which are shared across programs. Candidates must meet a proficient level in each shared assessment in order to be recommended for licensure. The three culminating assessments are described in the first table below. 

The UAF School of Education looked at average scores in the final semester across the three shared culminating assessments for each graduating candidate across all teaching licensure programs (See Figure 3 below). Each assessment is scored on a scale of 1-Underdeveloped to 4-Distinguished. A score of 3 is considered proficient. The majority of all candidates across programs were assessed at a proficient level.