WGU Teacher Education Program Ranked Number One by National Council on Teacher Quality

ST. LOUIS, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Aspiring educators in Missouri have a teacher-preparation option that has been ranked No. 1 nationwide by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ). In its Teacher Prep Review 2014, the NCTQ gave top honors to the secondary teaching program at Western Governors University, the parent institution of WGU Missouri, out of a list of 2,400 programs. It also ranked WGU's elementary teacher preparation program 16^th in the nation—one of only 26 elementary programs to be recognized for high quality.

In addition, WGU Missouri's teaching programs on Tuesday were approved for teacher certification in Missouri by the State Board of Education. The board found that WGU Missouri's 17 teaching certification programs meet the state standards for developing effective educators. Missouri teaching graduates previously received their licensure in Missouri through reciprocity with Utah, where WGU is located.

WGU was one of only 10 institutions in the nation named to the NCTQ's top lists for both elementary and secondary teacher education. The NCTQ praised WGU's secondary teaching program for earning nearly perfect scores across the board. Its report observed that "Western Governors University places staff in every state who carefully oversee the delivery of a strong student teaching experience."

"With over twenty years of experience in K-12 education in Missouri, I know how important teacher preparation is to the quality of education our children receive," said Angie Besendorfer, chancellor of WGU Missouri. "I'm delighted that the teaching programs WGU Missouri offers are being recognized by the state of Missouri and by the NCTQ for their quality and effectiveness."

WGU Missouri's Teachers College offers competency-based teacher preparation with 17 undergraduate- and graduate-level teacher preparation programs. Designed to be flexible for working adults, WGU Missouri's supportive model is perfect for adults seeking a second career in teaching. Parent institution Western Governors University is the country's largest provider of math and science educators, with 11,000 students and 14,000 graduates in all 50 states. WGU is the first exclusively online university to earn accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for its teacher preparation programs.

WGU Missouri uses an innovative approach to learning called competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Students earn their degrees by demonstrating mastery of subject matter. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of prior learning and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn.

WGU Missouri faculty members work one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU's degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate, saving both time and money. Tuition for WGU Missouri's teacher education programs, which has not increased since 2008, is charged at a flat rate of $2,890 per six-month term. For more information about WGU Missouri's teacher education programs, go to missouri.wgu.edu/education.

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including Nursing. WGU Missouri employs full-time faculty who serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Established by the state through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University (WGU), WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. Through WGU, all WGU Missouri programs are accredited, and the university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $6,000 per year for most programs.

More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

About Western Governors University

Named one of  Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies for 2013," Western Governors University is the only university in the U.S. offering accredited, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs at scale.

WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. WGU's Teachers College is the first exclusively online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation for its teacher licensure programs from NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The WGU bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and its B.S. in Health Informatics is accredited by CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education).

The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).

About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit association formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance learning industry. http://www.usdla.org

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Contact for enrollment information:
855-948-8493
missouri.wgu.edu

Contact for media inquiries:
Kelly MacNeil 
314-677-2303
[email protected]

SOURCE WGU Missouri