PRINCETON, N.J.

Deans and other administrators from teacher-education programs at historically Black colleges and universities who attended a conference at the Educational Testing Service here say they are taking back information to give their students a better chance at passing qualifying and certification tests.

Twenty-five educators attended the Second Annual ETS-HBCU Assessment Development Invitational Conference this week at the ETS conference center. Organizers were Dr. Linda Scatton, director of the Policy Evaluation and Research Center, and Katherine Bassett, director of educator relations.

In most of the colleges and universities, participants said students must pass an initial exam developed by ETS, the Praxis I, to be admitted to teacher-preparation programs. Those admitted take the Praxis II at or near the end of their training to qualify for teacher certification. According to ETS, Praxis I, the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), measures basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The Praxis II, Subject Tests, measure knowledge of specific K-12 subjects, as well as teaching skills and knowledge.

“Passing the Praxis is a big deal at my college,” Helen Owens, assistant professor of education at Lane College in Tennessee, told Diverse. “The more I know about this test, the more I can assist my students. I have learned how the test is put together, how it is scored, how they can prepare. I learned some things that take out some of the mystery of the test.”

Less than half of African-Americans who take Praxis I pass the exams, according to Dr. Drew H. Gitomer, a senior scientist and distinguished appointee at ETS.

However, Gitomer, who presented preliminary findings of ETS research on African-Americans who take the Praxis tests, encouraged participants to look at failure on the Praxis I as “an important signal that needs to be attended to in order to avoid later disappointment.” He said that early research indicates students who struggle with Praxis I generally will not succeed in the teaching program.