After a competitive bidding process that included a careful review of vendor proposals, DESE has awarded the contract for educator candidate assessments to ETS. The process of developing the Request for Proposals (RFP) and evaluating the proposals was completed over the past year-and-a-half through a collaborative process including representatives from both DESE and Educator Preparation Programs. During the transition, relevant information will be published on this page.
General
- The contract affects certification exams, the teacher preparation program admission exam, and the paraprofessional exam.
- Scores for Pearson exams taken prior to July 1, 2024 will continue to be valid--in the certification area with which they are currently associated--in most cases after July 1, 2024. This will apply to the paraprofessional exam, too.
- It will not be possible to use a Pearson Elementary subtest by itself. If a candidate has not passed both Elementary subtests by July 1, 2024, then the entire ETS Elementary assessment will have to be taken.
- The cost for individual tests will be increasing, but it would have risen with the new contract, regardless of the vendor.
- Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) will make their own decisions regarding tests that may be used for admission, but DESE encourages EPPs to consider continuing to accept MoGEA scores earned prior to July 1, 2024.
Timeline
- The new contract will begin July 1, 2024.
- Pearson exams will not be available to take after June 30, 2024.
Testing Centers
- Efforts are underway to ensure that testing sites are distributed so as to ensure maximum accessibility to potential test-takers in all parts of the state.
- Institutions wishing to apply to become approved testing centers for these ETS exams should consult this document.
Questions should be directed to eqprep@dese.mo.gov.