Elementary Education program ranked 23rd in nation

The UF College of Education’s program in Elementary Education maintained its top-tier national standing, placing 23rd in the U.S. News & World Reports’ annual rankings of America’s best graduate schools, released April 1.

The Elementary Education program has ranked among the top 25 in its specialty in five of the past eight years, placing as high as 12th last year.

“Our top ranking reflects the high quality of our graduates as well as the strength of our talented faculty,” said Tom Dana, director of UF’s School of Teaching and Learning since 2003. “We’re pleased that so many school superintendents and faculty at other colleges of education around the country nominated our program as one of the best in the nation.”

UF’s elementary education program is one of the few in the nation requiring teacher candidates to complete five years of study, culminating with a master’s degree in one of five specialty areas—reading, math/science, technology, special education or ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The program focuses on preparing teachers to work with all students, particularly those with disabilities, children from low-income families and those whose first language is not English. Through the college’s partnerships with disadvantaged schools around the state, UF elementary teacher candidates receive extended, hands-on field experiences in the classroom, learning research-proven instructional practices from master teachers.

Other nationally ranked academic programs at UF’s College of Education are Counselor Education (No. 2) and Special Education (4). Overall, the College placed 44th, making it the highest ranking education school in Florida, and one of the top three colleges at UF.