ETS Introduces Praxis™ Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) as Part of The Praxis Series™ Assessments

PRINCETON, N.J., July 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Educational Testing Service today announced the introduction of the newly developed Praxis™ Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) series of tests that will be available fall 2013. Registration opens today.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33419LOGO)

The new Praxis CORE tests have been designed to be a more rigorous and comprehensive series of assessments in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. The exams — offered in a computer-delivered testing format — accomplish this by using technology to more accurately measure the abilities, content knowledge and critical thinking skills of the teacher candidates.

"We worked with committees of teacher educators to ensure that the new Praxis CORE series of exams reflects the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), in particular those standards that the educators deemed most important to success in a teacher preparation program," said ETS Vice President and COO of Teacher Licensure & Certification Programs, George Powell. "The new tests are designed to help teacher educators choose the candidates most likely to flourish in programs geared to meet the intensified demand for teachers whose students will complete their K–12 education ready for college and for the workforce."

Since the new Praxis CORE tests are still in the process of being adopted by many institutions of higher education and State Departments of Education, both the Praxis CORE and Praxis I ® tests will be offered to candidates through the 2014–15 administration cycle. Approximately 12 states and agencies are adopting the new CORE tests with additional states expected to sign on during fall 2014.

Registration for the CORE assessments will begin on July 15, 2013. The cost of the tests will be the same as the cost for the current Praxis I series: $135, if all three subject tests are taken at once; $85 to repeat any one test on which a candidate does not receive a passing score; and $125 to repeat two subject tests at once. A free study companion for the CORE assessments will be available when registration opens. A complete interactive practice test will be available for purchase in September 2013.

Other information on The Praxis Series™

New and Updated Praxis Tests

• Nine of the new tests will be redesigned to align with the CCSS including the Praxis™ Core Academic Skills for Educators tests in Reading, Writing and Mathematics, and the Praxis II® Mathematics and ELA tests for Middle School and Secondary Education.

Expanded Computer Coverage

• Computer-delivered tests are currently available to 90 percent of Praxis test takers
• Candidates will have two-week windows to take their computer-delivered tests.

Expanded Network

• The Prometric® Test Center network includes 500 computerized locations.

For more information please visit www.ets.org/praxis/about/core.

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

SOURCE Educational Testing Service