Student Testing and Assessment

Communication Skills

Students applying for admission to the Institute of Professional Educator Development must satisfy the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requirement for Communication Skills as defined in PI 34.021(1)(a) by meeting one of the following requirements:

1. Praxis CORE

If taken as the designated assessment of communication skills, all three sections (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) of the Praxis CORE Academic Skills for Educators exam must be passed prior to applying for admission to the program. It is recommended that students register for the exam at least two months ahead of the desired test date. Teahcer Education must have an Official Score Report in order to process applications for admission; without an Official Score Report, your application for admission will be returned to you and you will have to wait to apply until the next open enrollment period.

The Praxis CORE is only delivered by computer. Computer based tests are offered almost every month during a two-week period. Score reports take approximately four weeks to arrive (keep this in mind when scheduling your test and your anticipated date for application for admission to the program).

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has set the pass rate scores for the Praxis CORE as follows:

  • Reading (5712) Passing Score: 156
  • Writing (5722) Passing Score: 162
  • Math (5732) Passing Score: 150

When registering for Praxis CORE, use the UW-Parkside four digit code of 1860 to ensure a timely delivery of the Official Score Report to Teacher Education. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the program has a copy of the test results. Please note it is the student's responsibility to keep their copy of the original score report; the program will not archive score reports.

NOTE: The Praxis CORE Academic Skills for Educators assessment is NOT the same as the Praxis I exam. Praxis I is no longer accepted by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction after August 31, 2014.  

PRAXIS CORE REGISTRATION PAGE

2. ACT

Teacher candidates applying for admission may use their ACT test scores if they received a composite score of 23 with a minimum score of 20 on English, Math and Reading AND the score is within the previous 10 years.

3. SAT

Teacher candidates applying for admission may use their SAT test scores if they received a minimum score of 510 on Critical Reading, 480 on Writing, and 520 on Math AND the score is within the previous 10 years.

4. GRE

Revised General Test - Teacher candidates applying for admission may use their GRE Revised General Test scores if they received a minimum score of 450 on Verbal Reasoning, 3 on Analytical Writing, and 540 on Quantitative Reasoning (prior to August 1, 2011) or a minimum score of 150 on Verbal Reasoning, 3 on Analytical Writing, and 145 on Quantitative Reasoning (after August 1, 2011) AND the score is within the previous 10 years.

5. Alternative Option 

Successful completion of ENGL 101 and MATH 102 or MATH 111 with a grade of C+ or higher (grade of CR accepted for Spring 2020 semester only).

Content Knowledge Assessment

All candidates are required to successfully complete a content knowledge assessment prior to admission to Residency. Assessment options vary based on licensure program, and candidates should consult with the Teacher Education Advisor beginning in their first semester to discuss these options.

For every license, the Praxis Subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) is an option for completion of the content knowledge assessment. If required, the Praxis Subject Assessment required for license must be taken and passed prior to progression to Residency. It is recommended that students register for the exam at least two months ahead of the desired test date. Teacher Education must have an Official Score Report in order to process applications for Residency; without an Official Score Report, your application for Residency will be returned to you and you will have to wait to apply until the next semester.

When registering for Praxis Subject Assessments, use the UW-Parkside four digit code of 1860 to ensure a timely delivery of the Official Score Report to the Educator Development Program. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the program has a copy of the test results. Please note it is the student's responsibility to keep their copy of the original score report; the program will not archive score reports.

PRAXIS SUBJECT ASSESSMENTS

Wisconsin uses the Praxis Subject Assessments for all licenses except world languages. The following are the test code, name and passing scores applicable to the individual license the student is seeking:

 

Wisconsin License Test Code Test Name Qualifying Score

Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence (MC-EA) and
Elementary and Middle School (K-9)

Regular Education 5146 Middle School: Content Knowledge 146
Cross-Categorical Special
Education (Any Emphasis)
5146 Middle School: Content Knowledge 146
Early Adolescence-Adolescence (EA-A)
Biological Science 5435 General Science: Content Knowledge 154
Chemistry  5435 General Science: Content Knowledge 154
Cross-Categorical Special
Education (Any Emphasis)
5146 Middle School: Content Knowledge 146
English 5038 English Language Arts: Content Knowledge 167
Geography  5081 Social Studies: Content Knowledge 153
Geosciences 5435 General Science: Content Knowledge 154
History  5081 Social Studies: Content Knowledge 153
Mathematics  5165 Mathematics: Content Knowledge 160
Political Science  5081 Social Studies: Content Knowledge 153
Sociology  5081 Social Studies: Content Knowledge 153
Early Childhood-Adolescence (EC-A) and
Kindergarten - Grade 12
Art 5134 Art: Content Knowledge 158
English as a Second Language 5362 English to Speakers of Other Languages 149
Music, General/Choral  5113 Music: Content Knowledge 150
Music, General/Instrumental 5113 Music: Content Knowledge 150
Early Childhood (EC)
Regular Education 5018 Elementary Education: Content Knowledge 157
 
 

Foundations of Reading Test (FORT 090)

Candidates submitting an Initial Educator License application for Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence, Elementary/Middle School (K-9), Early Childhood Education, and Special Education (all levels)* are required to pass the Foundations of Reading Test, a test of reading instruction knowledge and skills administered by Pearson. This is a computer based test with 100 multiple choice questions and two short answer questions. Testing is available by appointment, Monday through Saturday (excluding holidays) at testing centers. The test results take approximately five weeks to be returned to you. 
 
The Foundations of Reading Test must be taken and passed prior to endorsement for licensure, but is not a requirement for admission to Residency. We recommend that you attempt the Foundations of Reading Test immediately after taking EDU 332. Review sessions are offered for students at the 300 level or above, along with Parkside alumni, at the end of fall and spring semesters.
 
Practice test materials, registration information and policies to better understand the Foundations of Reading Test can be found at www.wi.nesinc.com
 
When registering for the Foundations of Reading Test, please be sure to register for the FORT 090. There is also an option to register for FORT 190, which is not a test accepted by the state of Wisconsin at this time. The FORT 190 will be a requirement for teacher licensure in Wisconsin beginning July 1, 2022, at which time the FORT 090 will no longer be accepted.
 
*UW-Parkside has been approved by DPI to offer an alternative to the Foundations of Reading Test for candidates seeking a license in Cross-Categorical Special Education. This alternative involves completing a course of study, receiving feedback and coaching from an expert in the teaching of reading, and completion of a portfolio of work. Please consult with the teacher education advisor to determine if you are eligible to pursue this alternative. PLEASE NOTE that this alternative is available for Special Education candidates ONLY.
 

NEW Foundations of Reading Test Self-Paced Modules

Literacy instructors across the University of Wisconsin System have developed a self-paced course designed to support participants’ understanding of the teaching of reading and engage in preparation work for the Foundations of Reading Test (FORT 90). Registration and engagement in the course is free of charge.

This course has enabled open enrollment. Participants with Canvas accounts can self-enroll in the course using this link URL: https://uws-ce.instructure.com/enroll/L9RACF. Alternatively, participants who do not have a registered Canvas account can sign up at https://uws-ce.instructure.com/register and use the following join code: L9RACF.
 

Pedagogical Knowledge Assessment

Candidates are required to complete and pass an assessment of pedagogical knowledge prior to being endorsed for licensure. At UW-Parkside, this assessment includes successful completion of the Pre-Residency Portfolio and evaluations of real-time teaching during Residency. The edTPA is no longer a requirement for teacher licensure at UW-Parkside.

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