Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Teacher Certification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears data on teacher pathways and new Praxis Bridge to help near‑pass candidates
Summary
CSDE staff briefed the board on teacher certification pathways including enhanced reciprocity, impacts on Connecticut EPP share, and a Praxis Bridge learning module aimed at candidates within a standard-error of passing Praxis II; early data show strong uptake.
State Department of Education staff outlined how teachers become certified in Connecticut and described two trends the board is tracking: growth in enhanced reciprocity pathways and new supports to help near-pass licensure candidates.
Ajit, who led the certification presentation, said Connecticut now recognizes multiple certification pathways and that enhanced reciprocity — a program that began in April 2022 — has grown rapidly, with more than 800 candidates in 2023–24 entering through that route. "Enhanced reciprocity has really made it much, much easier," Ajit said, summarizing why the share of Connecticut educator preparation program (EPP) completers has fallen below half of first-time certifications in recent years.
Ajit also described the Praxis Bridge, a targeted learning module for candidates who score within one standard error of a Praxis II passing score. The Bridge provides tailored practice, free vouchers and mastery-based study windows; Ajit said it is designed to help candidates "get over the finish line" without retaking an entire exam. Early usage data presented to the board show roughly 2,000 bridge-eligible tests and about 700 sign-ups so far, with high completion rates among those who enroll.
Presenters and board members discussed employment and retention: data show Connecticut EPP completers are more likely to be employed in-state than some reciprocity pathways, and staff cautioned that attributing long-term retention to preparation pathway alone is difficult because working conditions and pay also matter.
Board members asked about linking interstate data to track whether certificants move to other states; staff said the data exist but are fragmented and that broader interstate exchanges would require additional resources and agreements. The board approved a budget expansion request that included $3 million sought to expand registered apprenticeship programs and build paraeducator-to-teacher pathways in support of retention and shortage-area needs.
Next steps include ongoing data collection on apprenticeship placements, continued outreach about the Praxis Bridge, and further refinement of analyses that link certification pathways to employment and retention outcomes.
