EdTPA Coordinator and Assistant Professor Julia Houston credits Shorter’s rigorous Christ-centered education programs and the hard work of Shorter’s teacher candidates and faculty for the outstanding success of the candidates on edTPA.

As requirements for earning a state teaching certificate in the state of Georgia become more rigorous for teacher candidates, Shorter teacher candidates are excelling in their field.  One such requirement is a performance-based portfolio, edTPA, that is submitted by candidates for national scoring during student teaching.

After two years of consequential implementation, all Shorter University student teachers submitting the edTPA portfolio have, on their initial submission, exceeded the passing scores set by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).

Shorter candidates complete this difficult task along with all the regular requirements for student teaching, often foregoing extra-curricular activities and sleep to meet deadlines. One candidate stated that “When you’re going through it, you feel like you’re dying… but you’ll be surprised how much it shapes you as an effective educator in the end.”   In 2017-2018, the state passing score increases; however, scores of all Shorter candidates for the past two academic years have exceeded the new higher passing score.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts university committed to excellence in education. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review annually include Shorter on their lists of best Southeastern Colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 40 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, associate’s, and master’s programs.