UT's Education Programs Approved by FDOE in Regular Program Review Process

The University of Tampa received notification from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Program Approval Board that all of UT’s undergraduate and graduate programs in education reviewed had received full approval.

Teacher preparation programs across the state of Florida are cyclically reviewed by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to determine the continuing program approval status of all offered programs.

The reviewed and approved undergraduate programs include K-12 in physical education and in music, and 6-12 in mathematics, biology, social science and English/ESOL. Additionally, a K-6 program in elementary education with ESOL endorsement was approved. The three MAT programs were in biology, physics and chemistry. All of these programs received approval through 2015.

Continued state approval of teacher education programs statewide is contingent upon meeting the requirements established by the state which include: delivering curriculum content which includes professional teaching standards, tracking and monitoring candidate performance throughout the program, documenting student mastery of teaching competencies in both coursework and field experiences, and addressing the needs of the state and the districts served.

“This approval confirms that UT’s education program continues to succeed in developing teachers who are prepared to create compelling, active learning environments,” said Anne Gormly, dean of the UT College of Mathematics, Social Sciences and Education. “I fully commend our education faculty for their efforts in achieving this status.”

This approval comes on the heels of UT being named the top university in the state for preparing teachers whose students outperform averages on the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT). Based on the impact data received from the FDOE for the 2010-2011 year, 100 percent of first year teachers who graduated from the UT in 2008-2009 had 50 percent or more of their students making learning gains as indicated in their students’ scores on the FCAT in both reading and mathematics. UT was the only institution in the state with 100 percent of the program completers making this significant type of positive impact on student learning gains.

For more information, contact the UT Department of Education at (813) 257-3082.