Teachers in Virginia can now use their SAT scores in place of the Praxis I. The hopes is that it will simplify the process and perhaps encourage those who might not otherwise consider teaching to enter the field:
If teacher-candidates took the SAT after April 1995, they would need to have earned at least 530 out of a possible 800 on each section, mathematics and verbal, and a combined score of at least 1100. For those who took the SAT before then, a minimum of 450 on the verbal section and 510 on the math section is required, along with a combined score of 1000. The differences reflect the "recentering" of the SAT...
Those who did not earn the requisite SAT scores will still have to take the Praxis, which assesses reading, writing, and mathematics skills and is required in 35 states as part of the licensing process.
"We do see this as a way of providing some flexibility," [spokesman for the Virginia education department] Mr. Pyle said. "This may help someone who has not been able to pass the Praxis."
But, he added, the board does not expect a lot of new teachers to fall into that category.
I'll say. As ReformK12 points out, high school seniors planning to major in education have typically had a very low mean on the SAT. In 2003, that mean was around 965 for a combined SAT, which means that (if one makes some assumptions about the shape of the distribution), only around 16% or so will have a high enough SAT score to opt out of the PRAXIS. Changing the test isn't lowering the standards, in this case; I think it's debatable whether this change will encourage more high performers to enter the teaching field.
Posted by kswygert at April 7, 2004 11:50 AM