Christopher Newport’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program has once again been named among the best in the country for helping prepare the next generation of exceptional reading instructors.

CNU earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for its proven success in preparing Captains to teach reading to elementary school students. It was one of only three graduate programs in Virginia to receive a top grade from NCTQ for readying teacher candidates to provide effective reading instruction to youngsters.

“For the MAT program to receive such recognition is confirmation that CNU’s Teacher Preparation Program is graduating new teachers that will be ready to address the literacy challenges in schools,” said Dr. Jean Filetti, professor of English and director of the Teacher Preparation Program.

It is the second time the MAT program has received this honor, the last being in 2023.

The NCTQ report, “Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation,” recognizes Christopher Newport for meeting and exceeding standards set by literacy experts. The report shows that CNU’s MAT program is “part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.”

Specifically, the high grade demonstrates that the program is effectively preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically-based reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. The council reviewed more than 700 teacher prep programs nationwide, and CNU’s proven success catapulted it to the top of the national rankings.

”Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,” said NCTQ President Heather Peske. “Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but Christopher Newport University is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”

In addition, CNU’s focus on preparing teachers to support a range of readers, including English Language Learners (ELLs) and speakers of language varieties, was ranked the highest in the state for all graduate programs, Filetti said.

“Our reading specialist instructors, course content, and field lab experience ensure solid preparation to teach what is arguably the number-one critical skill, reading, that all PK-12 students need to hone for academic and life success,” she said.

The MAT program not only offers scholarships to support students financially, it also touts a 100 percent job-placement rate.

“We have a nationally recognized teacher preparation program - arguably one of the best in the state and in the nation. The program is committed to providing future educators with the support they will need to succeed in their chosen careers,” Filetti said.