GSW earns national recognition for preparing future elementary teachers in the science of reading

Americus, Ga. (June 9, 2026)—The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) has earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for how well they prepare future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.

• Bachelor of Science in Education with a Major in Elementary Education with Certification: A+ (View grade page)

The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, published on June 9, spotlights GSW for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.

“We are committed to preparing educators to enter the classroom equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to help every child succeed,” said Rachel Abbott, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “This recognition from NCTQ affirms the outstanding work of our faculty and the strength of our Elementary Education program in aligning teacher preparation with evidence-based literacy instruction. Reading is the foundation for all learning, and we are proud to prepare future teachers who will make a lasting impact on students, families and communities across Georgia and beyond.”

A child’s ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life, yet according to NAEP data, four in ten fourth graders in Georgia cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that—but only if it is aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.

Georgia Southwestern is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading. Teacher candidates in the elementary education teacher preparation program take four courses specifically focused on literacy - Early Literacy, Intermediate Literacy, Literacy Assessment and Instruction, and Literature for Children. Candidates are prepared through coursework, field experiences, and clinical practice emphasizing evidence-based literacy practices.

“Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,” said NCTQ President Heather Peske. “Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but Georgia Southwestern State University is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”

NCTQ’s methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates, and measurement experts. To evaluate the quality of preparation being provided, a team of experts at NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments, and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates at Georgia Southwestern State University.

To earn an “A,” programs needed to demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction. To earn an A+, programs needed to exceed those targets and not teach any instructional practices that are unsupported by research.

See NCTQ’s report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation for more information about Georgia Southwestern State University’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how Georgia Southwestern State University compares to other programs in Georgia or across the country.

About NCTQ

The National Council on Teacher Quality: NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization on a mission to ensure every child has access to an effective teacher and every teacher has the opportunity to be effective. We believe a strong, diverse teacher workforce is critical for providing all students with equitable educational opportunities. Fore more information about NCTQ, visit www.nctq.org.