Praxis II® Tests Opening Classroom Doors in Texas

Teacher candidates can qualify for Texas Educational Preparation Program with the Praxis II® tests

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Princeton, N.J. (March 16, 2009) —

Educational Testing Service today announced that the Texas Education Agency has selected ETS as an approved service provider for the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) Program. The TEA will use The Praxis Series™ assessments, specifically the Praxis II® tests, as part of its teacher licensure and certification process.

As an official vendor, ETS will offer selected content tests out of state, but for Texas. Now, people across the country who are interested in enrolling in a Texas Educator Preparation Program can qualify by taking and passing a Praxis II content test. Test takers can then use those scores, along with other qualifications, to enter a Texas Educational Preparation Program.

“ETS and the TEA are committed to teacher quality,” Linda Tyler, ETS Vice President and COO for Teacher Licensure and Certification, says. “It’s a privilege to have the Praxis™ program play a crucial role in ensuring that a qualified teacher is placed in every Texas classroom.”

Presently, Texas is facing a growing shortage of teachers in some content areas.

A recent study by the University of Texas at Austin indicates an alarming shortage of teachers in math and science. Since 2004, those shortages have increased dramatically, especially in high school science where the shortage has jumped by over 80 percent. The report also found that teacher shortages mean that less-qualified teachers are being placed in classrooms.

Recent college graduates and career changers, as well as teachers from other states and countries, are encouraged to pursue available teaching opportunities in Texas.

Praxis II tests measure test takers’ knowledge of the specific subjects they will teach.

For more information about Praxis II assessments, please visit www.ets.org/praxis2.

Those interested in pursuing teaching positions in the state of Texas should contact the State Board for Educator Certification at www.tea.state.tx.us or (888) 863-5880.

About ETS

At nonprofit 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 in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® test and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide.