New York State Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation eliminating the standardized graduate admissions exam requirement for teacher preparation master’s degrees.
Diana Turk, chair, Department of Teaching and Learning at NYU Steinhardt, cheered the move.
“With this removal of the GRE and MAT requirement, more students can access a pathway to teaching,” explains Turk, co-director of the NYU Teacher Residency.
“The GRE often serves as a barrier rather than as a useful tool for entrance into teaching programs. The test is expensive, as are test preparation services, and it has never served as a predictor of success either in a teacher preparation program or as a teacher. Applicants from persistently under-represented and marginalized communities, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, will no longer be limited by this requirement. We applaud this decision by Governor Hochul at a time when our country faces a critical need for diverse teachers from all backgrounds and circumstances,” says Turk.
Eligibility to join the Teacher Residency is based on previous undergraduate and graduate course work. Prior teaching experience is not required.