Stephen F. Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University once again has one of the highest pass rates in the state for students seeking educator certification. According to the State Board for Educator Certification, a division of the Texas Education Agency, the overall pass rates for students completing a certification program at SFA in 2004-2005 is 99 percent.

All SFA's educator certification programs have received continued accreditation by the state, according to Dr. John Jacobson, dean of the SFA College of Education.

“The faculty and administration are so pleased with the continued high performance of our candidates earning educator certifications from SFA,” Jacobson said. “Though 99 percent is close to having a perfect record, it is worth noting that 30 of our certification programs did achieve a 100 percent pass rate."

Almost 700 students completed an education program at SFA during 2004-2005, including students seeking credentials for early childhood through fourth grade, fourth through eighth grade and early childhood through 12th grade. Other certifications awarded include principal, superintendent, school counselor, educational diagnostician, reading specialist, master reading teacher and master mathematics teacher certification.

As one of the largest and most comprehensive educator preparation programs in the state, SFA is one of only a few education preparation institutions in Texas that holds additional accreditation status from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.