This article describes the middle grades program at Georgia College's John H. Lounsbury College of Education, which educates and trains middle school teachers. It describes the school's field-based teacher preparation program in which a mentor leader guides the candidates. The middle grades education program is a two-year, field-intensive…

The middle-grades program at a state university recently underwent a program redesign in an effort to ensure that teacher candidates are well prepared to teach in today's contemporary middle schools while maintaining the principles and standards established by the Association of Middle Level Educators. The purpose of this article is to explain the…

Investigates the Praxis II, the standardized teacher examination required for teacher certification in Georgia. Considers why African American teacher candidates were less successful than their white colleagues in passing this exit exam for teacher licensure. Concludes that assessment must account for the cultural realities that teacher candidates…