By William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) — Jackson State University (JSU) has earned an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for excelling in the science of reading and elementary teacher preparation. Through the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) degree program in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), JSU meets standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction.
“This recognition by the NCTQ is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty in the elementary education program. Their commitment extends beyond preparing pre-service teachers through evidence-based reading instruction,” said Tony Latiker, Ed.D., dean and associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development. “Our faculty are leading Mississippi’s efforts to improve literacy outcomes for all learners through participating in and conducting professional development and evaluating reading instruction.”
The Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation report shows that Jackson State is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary.
Brailyn Luckett is a spring 2025 JSU graduate and second-grade reading teacher at Bates Elementary School in Jackson Public Schools. Luckett enters her second year as a teacher in JPS, where she says they are proud to continue their mission to enhance the lives of every scholar.
“The College of Education really instilled in me the importance of the science of reading and language comprehension models like the Scarborough Rope. This has made an impact in my classrooms, and I’m excited to continue using it more in the development of our scholars,” said Luckett.
“Outside of parents, teachers make the biggest impact on the students’ personalities, and I take that to heart. Data moves instruction. It helps us see growth, and it makes me feel happy to be a part of the initiative and progress happening in Mississippi and JPS.”
In 2023 Jackson State also earned the NCTQ’s A+ rating and has since produced 133 teachers in areas such as special education, social science education, music education, math education, health education, physical education and English education, with 95 being elementary education.
Teacher candidates in JSU’s College of Education are prepared in the fundamentals and science of reading, regardless of their licensure area, in order to ensure and foster student success across various grade levels and subject areas.
Aspiring student teachers also gain hands-on, literacy-aligned practicum experience in K-12 classrooms across Mississippi, with over 17 district partners, including Clinton Public Schools, Hazlehurst Public Schools, Jackson Public Schools, Madison County Schools, and Pearl Public Schools. The future educators work alongside faculty mentors and experienced educators to complete over 480 hours of teacher training and ultimately prepare the next generation of leaders.
“The distinction from the National Council on Teacher Quality reaffirms the College of Education and Human Development’s longstanding commitment to preparing highly effective educators for Mississippi’s workforce,” said Stephanie R. Davidson-Herndon, Ph.D., department chair and associate professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
“This recognition reflects the Elementary Education program’s dedication to aligning coursework, clinical experiences, and instructional practices with research-based literacy instruction that equips future teachers to address the diverse learning needs of students.”
According to the NCTQ, researchers estimate more than 90% of all students could learn to read if they have access to instruction. Additionally, research shows that students who are not reading at grade level by fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, leading to increasing their risk of earning a lower income, facing unemployment, and future involvement with the criminal justice system.
View the link to find out more about JSU’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) degree program or visit https://teacherquality.nctq.org/review/viewProgram/Jackson-State-University-MS-1.
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Media Contact: William H. Kelly III, william.h.kelly@jsums.edu