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NC Considers Replacing Math Portion Of Teacher Licensing Exam

Currently, North Carolina elementary and special education teachers have to pass three tests to obtain their licenses. KERI BROWN/WFDD

The math portion of North Carolina teacher licensing exam could soon be replaced.

Earlier this year, State Board of Education officials learned that nearly 2,400 elementary and special education teachers have failed in their bids to secure their licenses because they didn't pass the math section. 

Critics say the test requires middle and high school math skills that teachers of young children may not use.

According to The Charlotte Observer, a report presented to the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission last week found the licensing exam's math portion wasn't indicative of effective teaching.

The current licensing exam costs $139 and consists of three portions created by the for-profit Pearson publishing company. Teachers have to pay additional fees to retake sections.

The commission voted unanimously to keep the reading test, end the multi-subject section and replace Pearson's math test with the nonprofit ETS' Praxis math exam.

The state Board of Education could vote to adopt the new requirements in February.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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