Assessment and Accreditation

The initial- and advanced-level educator preparation programs at West Chester University are accredited by CAEP. The University first earned accreditation in 1954 as a charter member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and most recently earned continued accreditation with CAEP in 2022. The most recent accreditation visit occurred virtually in Spring 2022 and resulted in continued accreditation for the programs listed below.

The College's next accreditation site review by CAEP is scheduled for Spring 2028.

Program	Level	Degree
English as a Second Language PK-12	Advanced	Endorsement
Reading Specialist PK-12	Advanced	Master's
English 7-12	Initial	Baccalaureate Post-Baccalaureate
Foreign/World Language Education PK-12 (Elective Certification - French, German, Russian, and Spanish)	Initial	Baccalaureate (All Languages) Post-Baccalaureate (Except Russian)
Grades PK-4	Initial	Baccalaureate Post-Baccalaureate
Grades 4-8	Initial	Baccalaureate Post-Baccalaureate
Health and Physical Education PK-12	Initial	Baccalaureate
Mathematics 7-12	Initial	Baccalaureate
Music Education PK-12	Initial	Baccalaureate Post-Baccalaureate
Science 7-12 (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space, General Science, and Physics)	Initial	Baccalaureate Post-Baccalaureate
Social Studies 7-12 (Elective Certification - Geography, History, and Political Science)	Initial	Baccalaureate
Special Education PK-8 (Program discontinued. See Special Education PK-12 program.)	Initial	Baccalaureate Post-Baccalaureate
Special Education 7-12 (Program discontinued. See Special Education PK-12 program.)	Initial	Baccalaureate Post-Baccalaureate

 

A SPA is a national organization representing teachers, professional education faculty, and other school personnel who teach a specific subject matter (e.g., mathematics or social studies), teach students at a specific developmental level (i.e., early childhood, elementary, middle level, or secondary), teach students with specific needs (e.g., bilingual education or special education), administer schools (e.g., principals or superintendents), or provide services to students (e.g., school counselors or school psychologists). Standards developed by SPAs describe what professionals in the field should know and be able to do.

Programs at West Chester University are either accredited or nationally recognized by their respective SPA.

Program	SPA	SPA Standards	SPA Recognition End Date
BSEd in English2	National Council of Teachers of English	NCTE Standards	08/01/2025
BA in Languages & Cultures with Elective Certification1 French Concentration German Concentration Russian Concentration Spanish Concentration	American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages	ACTFL Standards	08/01/2025
MEd in Literacy & Reading Specialist Certification2	International Literacy Association	ILA Standards	08/01/2025
BSEd in Mathematics2	National Council of Teachers of Mathematics	08/01/2026
BSEd in Middle Grades Preparation2	Association for Middle Level Education	AMLE Standards	02/01/2027
Science Education2 BSEd in Biology BSEd in Chemistry BSEd in Earth & Space Sciences BSEd in Physics	National Science Teaching Association	NSTA Standards	08/01/2025
Elective Social Studies Teacher Certification2 BA in History BA in Political Science BS in Geography	National Council for the Social Studies	NCSS Standards	08/01/2028
Special Education2 BSEd in Special Education PK-8 and Early Grades Preparation BSEd in Special Education PK-8 and Middle Grades Preparation BSEd in Special Education 7-12 (These programs are discontinued. See BSEd in Special Education PK-12 programs.)	Council for Exceptional Children	CEC Standards	08/01/2025
Certificate of Preparation in ESL Teaching (ESL Program Specialist Certificate)1	TESOL International Association	TESOL Standards	08/01/2025

¹Housed in The College of Arts & Humanities
²Housed in The College of Education & Social Work

The baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate certification programs at West Chester University are required to complete a Major Program Review by the PDE every seven years. According to the PDE, "The overarching purpose of the Major Review is to provide all stakeholders in the Commonwealth with assurance of program quality and professional educator competency." The most recent review occurred in 2022 and resulted in continued approval. The next review is scheduled to occur during the 2029-2030 academic year.

VIEW THE PDE PROGRAM APPROVAL LETTER

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not provide educator preparation providers with a mechanism to track completers' effectiveness. However, as detailed in our Self-Study Transition Plan for CAEP Standard 4.1, we have outlined a plan to better track completer effectiveness and their application of professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in P-12 classrooms.

Currently, performance reviews and supervisor observations of our program completers from principals or other supervisors have been analyzed. We held focus groups with a small sample of our program completers who were 1-2 years beyond the completion of their program and working in their field of preparation. As part of the focus groups, we asked them to share their performance reviews (the Danielson Framework for Teaching or similar review) and/or supervisor observations. Their reviews indicated each program completer was proficient or distinguished in the categories of planning and preparation, instruction, and professional responsibilities, and the majority were also rated as proficient or distinguished in the category of classroom environment. This suggests our program completers are demonstrating evidence of completer effectiveness.

Additionally, program completers provided observation rubrics containing descriptive language. This helps highlight how they provide instruction that impacts P-12 student learning. One example is the statement, "engaging students, using assessment to drive instruction, and using questioning during instruction to encourage discussion." Completers engaged students in a way principals/supervisors considered proficient or distinguished. Further, most completers were rated as proficient in using assessment to drive instruction and implementing sound pedagogical practices of questioning to promote discussion. The majority of this evidence suggests our completers are positively impacting their P-12 students. Lastly, some of the observation rubrics included specific categories related to a program completer's certification area. As an example, one program completer received a distinguish on their ability to "adapt [their] teaching for the benefit of students with special needs." In analyzing this data, it is important to note some of these assessments should be interpreted with caution because information was removed to ensure P-12 student confidentiality.

Source: West Chester University's CAEP Self-Study Report and Evidence (2021).

Employer Survey: Skyfactor Benchworks Teacher Education Employer Assessment:

West Chester University of Pennsylvania Title II Report Card Information

Title II Reporting

Pursuant to the accountability provisions of the Higher Education Act, West Chester University publicly publishes information, which is available in the Institution's Title II report, on our educator preparation programs. This includes information on our candidates' performance on certification exams (i.e., pass rates). 

Exam Pass Rates

The following tables include Pennsylvania teacher certification exam data for West Chester University educator preparation program completers. Data are aggregated by graduating cohort. Please note, when a program has less than 10 candidates in a year, the text "Low N" will be displayed instead of the pass rate. This is to protect our candidates' identity. Commonwealth-wide data are also provided as a benchmark.

Please note: The PDE implemented a sliding scale system, in which candidates can pass certification tests with a qualifying grade point average at the end of their educator preparation program. The PDE Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality Certifying Tests and Qualifying Scores were implemented on 01/01/2010. These pass rates are not included in Title II reporting.

Certification Test and Score Requirements (Located in the Requirements section as number 3 [Excel download])

Summary Pass Rates

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	432	69%	71%
2019-2020	389	69%	70%
2018-2019	432	77%	71%
2017-2018	387	72%	74%
2016-2017	432	82%	79%
2015-2016	433	82%	78%

Content Area Pass Rates

Biology 7-12

Test: Praxis Biology: Content Knowledge (5235)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	5	Low N	99%
2019-2020	6	Low N	96%
2018-2019	10	90%	97%
2017-2018	4	Low N	98%
2016-2017	3	Low N	99%
2015-2016	7	Low N	99%

Chemistry 7-12

Test: Praxis Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5245)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	4	Low N	87%
2019-2020	2	Low N	95%
2018-2019	6	Low N	90%
2017-2018	1	Low N	95%
2016-2017	2	Low N	98%
2015-2016	1	Low N	86%

Earth and Space Sciences 7-12

Test: Praxis Earth and Space Sciences: Content Knowledge (5571)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	5	Low N	95%
2019-2020	0	N/A	81%
2018-2019	6	Low N	88%
2017-2018	3	Low N	100%
2016-2017	4	Low N	100%
2015-2016	2	Low N	78%

English 7-12

Test: Praxis English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	31	94%	96%
2019-2020	22	100%	94%
2018-2019	26	96%	95%
2017-2018	23	100%	95%
2016-2017	26	88%	94%
2015-2016	33	97%	96%

Foreign/World Language Education PK-12 (French, German, Russian, and Spanish)

French 7-12

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	0	N/A	Low N
2019-2020	0	N/A	N/A
2018-2019	0	N/A	N/A
2017-2018	0	N/A	N/A
2016-2017	0	N/A	N/A
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	0	N/A	Low N
2019-2020	1	Low N	Low N
2018-2019	4	Low N	Low N
2017-2018	1	Low N	Low N
2016-2017	1	Low N	Low N
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

German 7-12

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	0	N/A	Low N
2019-2020	1	Low N	Low N
2018-2019	0	N/A	N/A
2017-2018	0	N/A	N/A
2016-2017	0	N/A	N/A
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	0	N/A	Low N
2019-2020	0	N/A	Low N
2018-2019	1	Low N	Low N
2017-2018	0	N/A	Low N
2016-2017	0	N/A	Low N
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

Russian 7-12

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	1	Low N	Low N
2019-2020	0	N/A	N/A
2018-2019	0	N/A	N/A
2017-2018	0	N/A	N/A
2016-2017	0	N/A	N/A
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	1	Low N	Low N
2019-2020	0	N/A	N/A
2018-2019	0	N/A	N/A
2017-2018	0	N/A	N/A
2016-2017	0	N/A	N/A
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

Spanish 7-12

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	5	Low N	100%
2019-2020	0	N/A	Low N
2018-2019	0	N/A	Low N
2017-2018	0	N/A	Low N
2016-2017	0	N/A	Low N
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

Test: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	4	Low N	100%
2019-2020	6	Low N	94%
2018-2019	5	Low N	100%
2017-2018	4	Low N	100%
2016-2017	10	100%	100%
2015-2016	0	N/A	N/A

General Science 7-12

Test: Praxis General Science: Content Knowledge (5435)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	1	Low N	93%
2019-2020	1	Low N	94%
2018-2019	1	Low N	92%
2017-2018	0	N/A	100%
2016-2017	0	N/A	96%
2015-2016	0	N/A	100%

Grades PK-4

Test: Pearson Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) PK-4 - Module 1: Child Development, Learning, Assessment, Collaboration, & Professionalism (8006)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	226	90%	89%
2019-2020	212	92%	91%
2018-2019	234	91%	91%
2017-2018	219	92%	92%
2016-2017	219	93%	92%
2015-2016	194	90%	91%

Test: Pearson PECT PK-4 - Module 2: Language, Literacy Development,  Social Studies, Arts, & Humanities (8007)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	226	86%	85%
2019-2020	214	86%	87%
2018-2019	234	89%	89%
2017-2018	219	84%	87%
2016-2017	219	85%	86%
2015-2016	194	88%	84%

Test: Pearson PECT PK-4 - Module 3: Mathematics, Science, & Health (8008)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	226	76%	77%
2019-2020	215	78%	78%
2018-2019	234	79%	79%
2017-2018	219	77%	79%
2016-2017	219	78%	79%
2015-2016	194	84%	77%

Grades 4-8

Test: Praxis Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 - Module 1: Pedagogy (5153)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	49	90%	90%
2019-2020	49	96%	98%
2018-2019	35	100%	98%
2017-2018	36	97%	96%
2016-2017	42	100%	99%
2015-2016	49	96%	98%

Test: Praxis Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 - Module 2: English Language Arts & Social Studies (5154)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	49	80%	78%
2019-2020	49	80%	81%
2018-2019	35	71%	82%
2017-2018	36	69%	88%
2016-2017	42	98%	94%
2015-2016	49	84%	87%

Test: Praxis Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 - Module 3: Mathematics & Science (5155)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	49	86%	80%
2019-2020	49	73%	81%
2018-2019	35	71%	84%
2017-2018	36	72%	82%
2016-2017	42	95%	95%
2015-2016	49	82%	83%

Candidates take one of the following tests based on their concentration:

Test: Praxis Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 - Subject Concentration: English Language Arts (5156)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	9	Low N	82%
2019-2020	10	90%	87%
2018-2019	9	Low N	92%
2017-2018	8	Low N	86%
2016-2017	5	Low N	100%
2015-2016	14	100%	90%

Test: Praxis Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 - Subject Concentration: Science (5159)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	9	Low N	84%
2019-2020	9	Low N	88%
2018-2019	9	Low N	85%
2017-2018	8	Low N	92%
2016-2017	4	Low N	100%
2015-2016	17	88%	87%

Test: Praxis Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 - Subject Concentration: Social Studies (5157)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	7	Low N	66%
2019-2020	8	Low N	83%
2018-2019	6	Low N	92%
2017-2018	6	Low N	95%
2016-2017	0	N/A	Low N
2015-2016	4	Low N	87%

Test: Praxis Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 - Subject Concentration: Mathematics (5158)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	24	75%	69%
2019-2020	22	59%	75%
2018-2019	11	64%	75%
2017-2018	14	64%	83%
2016-2017	6	Low N	95%
2015-2016	14	79%	83%

Health and Physical Education PK-12

Test: Praxis Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5857)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	25	80%	88%
2019-2020	24	88%	89%
2018-2019	24	100%	91%
2017-2018	28	100%	93%
2016-2017	18	100%	95%
2015-2016	19	100%	96%

Mathematics 7-12

Test: Praxis Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5161)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	17	59%	58%
2019-2020	14	79%	59%
2018-2019	13	62%	68%
2017-2018	15	67%	77%
2016-2017	18	100%	82%
2015-2016	24	83%	82%

Music Education PK-12

Test: Praxis Music: Content Knowledge (5113)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	40	93%	95%
2019-2020	31	87%	90%
2018-2019	55	95%	93%
2017-2018	31	90%	96%
2016-2017	51	96%	97%
2015-2016	55	98%	98%

Physics 7-12

Test: Praxis Physics: Content Knowledge (5265)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	1	Low N	95%
2019-2020	1	Low N	100%
2018-2019	0	N/A	100%
2017-2018	2	Low N	100%
2016-2017	3	Low N	79%
2015-2016	3	Low N	90%

Social Studies 7-12 (Geography, History, and Political Science)

Test: Praxis Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	16	75%	86%
2019-2020	10	100%	87%
2018-2019	13	85%	84%
2017-2018	15	93%	88%
2016-2017	19	89%	92%
2015-2016	27	93%	93%

Special Education PK-12 (New Program)

Test: Praxis Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	N/A	N/A	N/A

Special Education PK-8 (Discontinued Program)

Test: Pearson Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) Special Education PK-8 - Module 1: Foundations and Professional Practice (Subarea 1), Understanding Students with Disabilities (Subarea 2), and Assessment and Program Planning and Implementation (Subarea 3) (8011)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	98	70%	75%
2019-2020	117	79%	80%
2018-2019	130	75%	80%
2017-2018	113	75%	77%
2016-2017	106	75%	77%
2015-2016	109	83%	78%

Test: Pearson Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) Special Education PK-8 - Module 2: Inclusive Learning Environments (Subarea 1) and Delivery of Specially Designed Instruction (Subarea 2) (8012)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	98	80%	75%
2019-2020	117	80%	78%
2018-2019	130	79%	79%
2017-2018	113	78%	78%
2016-2017	106	84%	79%
2015-2016	109	78%	76%

Special Education 7-12 (Discontinued Program)

Test: Pearson Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) Special Education PK-8 - Module 1: Foundations and Professional Practice (Subarea 1), Understanding Students with Disabilities (Subarea 2), and Assessment and Program Planning and Implementation (Subarea 3) (8015)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	7	Low N	93%
2019-2020	7	Low N	97%
2018-2019	15	93%	98%
2017-2018	8	Low N	100%
2016-2017	8	Low N	95%
2015-2016	11	100%	95%

Test: Pearson Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) Special Education PK-8 - Module 2: Inclusive Learning Environments (Subarea 1) and Delivery of Specially Designed Instruction (Subarea 2) (8016)

Graduating Cohort	WCUPA Number Taking Test	WCUPA Pass Rate	Pennsylvania Pass Rate
2020-2021	7	Low N	91%
2019-2020	7	Low N	93%
2018-2019	15	100%	96%
2017-2018	8	Low N	94%
2016-2017	8	Low N	95%
2015-2016	11	100%	98%

Title II Reports:

2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016

Alumni Survey for Initial Educator Preparation Programs (see question 4):

Employer Survey: Skyfactor Benchworks Teacher Education Employer Assessment:

MEd in Literacy and Reading Specialist Certification, PK-12
Test: Praxis Reading Specialist (5301 & 5302)
Passing Score: 164

Graduating Cohort	Number of Program Completers	Number Taking Assessment	Number Passing Assessment*	Pass Rate	Average Score
2021-2022	34	31	30	97%	179
2020-2021	35	32	32	100%	186
2019-2020	44	43	43	100%	186
2018-2019	31	31	31	100%	184
2017-2018	24	24	23	96%	188
2016-2017	35	34	34	100%	189
2015-2016	31	30	30	100%	188

*The number of candidates passing the assessment does not include candidates using the sliding scale system implemented by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, PK-12
Assessment: Pennsylvania Department of Education 430 Form (Teaching Evaluation)
Acceptable Minimum Rating: Satisfactory

Term	Number of Students Evaluated	Percent of Students with a Satisfactory or Above Rating
Spring 2022	3	100%
Fall 2021	5	100%
Spring 2021	4	100%

Assessment: Grade Point Average (GPA)
Acceptable Minimum GPA: 3.0

Term	Number of Students	Cumulative GPA
Spring 2022	3	3.94
Fall 2021	5	4.00
Spring 2021	4	3.95

Alumni Survey for Advanced Educator Preparation Programs (see question 3):

2014 Institutional Report