MC Earns National Recognition for Preparing Future Elementary Teachers in Science of Reading

GAZETTE Page A6 Friday, June 19, 2026 HINDS COUNTY MC EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR PREPARING FUTURE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS IN SCIENCE OF READING The undergradu- ate elementary teacher preparation program at Mississippi Christian University has earned an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality for how well it prepares future teachers to teach read- ing to elementary stu- dents. The NCTQ's report, "Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation," published on June 9, spotlights MC for meeting the stan- dards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective meth- ods of reading instruc- tion. According to the report, the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five com- ponents of scientifically based reading instruc- tion, including phonemic awareness, phonics, flu- ency, comprehension and vocabulary.

According to the NCTQ, teacher prepara- tion, when aligned with research-based instruc- tional methods, is one of the most direct levers available to improve childhood reading profi- ciency. MC is part of a growing group of teacher-preparation pro- grams nationwide help- ing transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading. Rachel Peeples, interim chair and profes- sor in the MC Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, said the strength of MC's literacy program is rooted in diverse and deeply com- mitted faculty.

"Our mission is to provide a caring Christian environment that facilitates the acqui- sition of deep pedagogi- cal knowledge and field- connected skills," Peeples said. "Earning an A+ from the NCTQ validates our commit- ment to preparing reflec- tive practitioners who are ready to lead 21st- century classrooms with excellence. "This recognition reflects our dedication to ensuring that every teacher we train is equipped to make a last- ing, positive impact on the lives of their future students." Heather Peske, NCTQ president, praised MC's program.

"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," Peske said. "Across the coun- try, many teacher prepa- ration programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but Mississippi Christian University is demon- strating what strong preparation can look like." The NCTQ's methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher prepa- ration faculty, reading advocates and measure- ment experts. To evalu- ate the quality of prepa- ration being provided, a team of experts at the NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture sched- ules and topics, back- ground reading materi- als, class assessments, and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates at MC.

To earn an "A," programs must demon- strate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of sci- entifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsup- ported by the research on effective reading instruction. To earn an A+, programs must exceed those targets and not teach any instructional practices that are unsupported by research. Peeples credited Jan Hankins and Jo LeVert, early literacy specialists at MC, for their role in helping the department achieve the rating.

"Under their leadership, our multidis- ciplinary team special- izes in the full spectrum of literacy, from founda- tional reading and writ- ing to the diagnostic pre- cision required to correct reading difficulties," Peeples said. "This acad- emic rigor is seamlessly integrated into high- quality clinical experi- ences within our partner districts." LeVert said achieving the highest possible rating from the NCTQ reflects the strength of MC's pro- gram, the expertise and dedication of the faculty and the University's commitment to continu- ous improvement. "Most important- ly, it signifies that MC provides a high-quality program designed to pre- pare future educators to make meaningful contri- butions in the field of education," LeVert said.

"The program equips future educators with the knowledge, skills and practical experience necessary to positively impact their students and effectively serve the school districts and communities in which they will work. "This rating assures students that they are receiving an exceptional education and are being prepared to succeed in today's classrooms. Graduates leave the program confi- dent, capable and ready to meet the diverse needs of learners." Hankins said prospective undergradu- ate education majors will take notice of MC's A+ rating from the NCTQ.

"MC's School of Education has cultivated a growing legacy of liter- ary leadership through- out our state," Hankins said. "(This rating) vali- dates our faculty's com- mitment to research- aligned instruction and ensures our education students are equipped with proven, evidence- based practices. "It gives our stu- dents a distinct competi- tive advantage.

School districts actively seek out graduates from A+- rated programs because they know these new teachers possess the proven skills to immedi- ately maximize student reading success." NCTQ's A+ rating signifies MC's elementary teacher preparation program's dedi- cation to ensuring that every teacher it trains is equipped to make a lasting, pos- itive impact on the lives of their future students.