CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University’s undergraduate teacher preparation program has received national recognition for its exceptional training of future educators in reading instruction. The program recently earned an “A” grade in the Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction, a new report released by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ). Delta State University joins the select group of institutions nationwide, with only 23% achieving the coveted “A” grade.
Dr. Andy Novobilski, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Delta State University, expressed pride in the program’s achievement, emphasizing the crucial role reading plays in a solid education. Dr. Novobilski remarked, “A solid education is formed on the foundation of a student’s ability to read. The result is a lifelong learner. Delta State is proud to be able to teach teachers the way to share the gift of reading with their students.”
The NCTQ report highlights the alarming national statistics, revealing that more than one-third of fourth-grade students, totaling over 1.3 million children, struggle to read at a basic level.