Undergraduate Program Earns an “A+” Letter Grade in New Report from the National Council on Teacher Quality
Longmeadow, Massachusetts—The undergraduate teacher preparation program at Bay Path University has been recognized by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for its rigorous preparation of future teachers, earning an “A+” grade in NCTQ’s new report, 2025 Teacher Prep Review: Solving for Math Success.
The program is among just 83 nationwide and five in Massachusetts to earn an “A+” from the NCTQ for meeting 100 percent of NCTQ’s target instructional hours under each of the five designated topics: Numbers and Operations, Algebraic Thinking, Geometry and Measurement, Data Analysis and Probability, and Mathematical Pedagogy.
National data shows that approximately 25% of fourth grade students—over 850,00 children—likely cannot perform skills such as locating numbers on a number line or subtracting multi digit whole numbers.
In Massachusetts, 82% of 4th grade students demonstrated basic math knowledge and skills based on the most recent National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the lowest in about 25 years. That number falls precipitously for some of Massachusetts’s historically underserved students.
“At Bay Path University, we believe that every child deserves a teacher who is confident, capable, and exceptionally well-prepared in the essential foundations of mathematics,” says Dr. Ellen Rustico, Assistant Dean of Education and Licensure Programs. “This A+ recognition from the National Council on Teacher Quality affirms the rigor and quality of our undergraduate teacher preparation program. At a time when too many students, particularly in underserved communities, are falling behind in math, our future educators are stepping forward with the skills and knowledge to make a real, lasting difference in the classroom — both here in Massachusetts and beyond.”
Bay Path’s undergraduate elementary education program prepares students to earn an initial license issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students interested in teaching outside Massachusetts received the background and experience to pursue certification and licensure in other states.
See the NCTQ report for more information about how Bay Path University prepares teachers for math instruction and to see how Bay Path University compares to other programs in Massachusetts or across the country.
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About Bay Path University
Bay Path University was founded in 1897. Bay Path’s enrolled population of over 3,000 includes traditional undergraduates; adult women at The American Women's College, the first all-women, all-online accredited degree program in the country; and women and men master’s and doctoral students. Bay Path’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference. For more information about Bay Path University, visit www.baypath.edu.
About NCTQ
The National Council on Teacher Quality: NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization on a mission to ensure every child has access to an effective teacher and every teacher has the opportunity to be effective. We believe a strong, diverse teacher workforce is critical for providing all students with equitable educational opportunities. For more information about NCTQ, visit www.nctq.org.
