Academics
School of Education
Good teachers are in demand around the world. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimates that we’ll need 69 million new teachers by 2030 to meet global education goals. RCU’s School of Education will prepare you to fill those roles, with Christian values and service. You’ll not only receive a strong foundation in curriculum and teaching skills, but also the abilities you need to effectively serve in diverse and challenging schools and global communities in the 21st century.
CAEP Accountability Measures
On April 23, 2023, The Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) granted Accreditation to Rochester Christian University for a seven-year term at the initial-licensure level.
Below is a link to the specific programs reviewed by the CAEP Accreditation Council. As a part of CAEP accreditation, each education preparation provider must report and prominently display data on its website relating to four Annual Reporting Measures established by CAEP. These measures are used to provide information to the public on program outcome and program impact. Rochester Christian University provides descriptions and links to the data below.
Measure 1: Completer Impact and Effectiveness
New Educator Effectiveness Ratings
1-5 Years Experience
End of the Year MDE Evaluation Ratings of Rochester Christian University Program Completers Data Received in the 2025 Reports via the Michigan Department of Education
Table 1. Completer effectiveness by years of experience.
Years Experience | Highly Effective | Effective | Min. Effective | Ineffective |
1 year (n = 7) | 0% | 86% | 0% | 14% |
2 years (n = 11) | 7% | 93% | 0% | 0% |
3 years (n = 6) | 5% | 95% | 0% | 0% |
4 years (n = 9) | 11% | 89% | 0% | 0% |
5 years (n = 1) | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
* N = 34 |
Table 2. Completer effectiveness by licensure area.
Program | Highly Effective | Effective | Min. Effective | Ineffective |
Elementary Educ. Pk-3 (n=3) | 100% | 0% | ||
Elem. K-5, K-8 all subjects (n=16) | 2% | 95% | 0% | 2% |
English (n=6) | 13% | 87% | 0% | |
Social Studies (n=4) | 100% | 0% | ||
Science Integrated (n=3) | 100% | 0% | ||
Learning Disabilities (n=3) | 100% | 0% | ||
English as a Second Language (n=2) | 50% | 50% | 0% | 0% |
*N=34 |
Analysis: Rochester Christian University provides evidence derived from the 2025 MDE New Educator Effectiveness Ratings as indicators of new educators’ application of professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in P–12 classrooms. The end-of-year evaluation ratings in this report include teachers from 2020 to 2025. A total of 34 RCU graduates generated 109 end-of-year evaluations.
Rochester Christian University program completers demonstrate consistently strong educator effectiveness outcomes based on 2025 Michigan Department of Education evaluation data (N = 34). Across the first five years of teaching, 86–100% of completers were rated Effective or Highly Effective, with no individuals identified as Minimally Effective. While 14% of first-year teachers were rated Ineffective, no Ineffective ratings were reported beyond Year 1, indicating positive development and increased effectiveness with experience. Highly Effective ratings also show a modest upward trend over time.
When disaggregated by licensure area, results remain uniformly strong. Most program areas—including Elementary PK–3, Social Studies, Science (Integrated), and Learning Disabilities—reported 100% of completers as Effective or Highly Effective. The largest group, Elementary K–5/K–8 (n = 16), demonstrated 97% Effective or Highly Effective ratings, with only 2% rated Ineffective. English and English as a Second Language completers also showed strong outcomes, with all individuals rated Effective or higher.
Overall, these findings indicate that program completers are well prepared to meet professional expectations and demonstrate sustained effectiveness in the classroom, with minor opportunities to strengthen support for first-year teachers.
Measure 2: Satisfaction of Employers and Stakeholder Involvement
- District Affiliation Agreements: This links to the list of districts with whom Rochester Christian University has affiliation agreements.
- Educator Preparation Institution (EPI) 2026 Performance Rating (for Measure 2): This links to the EPI Performance Rating which is annually calculated by the Michigan Department of Education, based on ratings in multiple categories. Sources for data include the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) pass rates, surveys of teacher candidates and their supervisors, and school demographics.
Measure 3: Candidate Competency at Program Completion
Candidate Performance Assessment for Student Teaching (CPAST)
- Link to the CPAST for the Fall 2024 semester. This assessment is completed by the student teacher, the university supervisor, and the cooperating teacher. Then, at a final conference, the ratings are combined into a consensus rating. This assessment shows that Rochester Christian University student teachers demonstrate proficiency as assessed by the CPAST.
Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Summary of State Results (2022-2025):
- Link to MTTC data with statewide benchmarks. This is a requirement in Michigan for certification.
MDE Candidate Survey Suite (Fall 2024/Spring 2025):
- Link to results of the survey completed by all teacher candidates, their university supervisor, and their cooperating teachers at the completion of the program. Ratings are presented with statewide benchmarks.
Educator Preparation Institution (EPI) 2026 Performance Rating (for Measure 3):
- Link to the EPI Performance Rating which is annually calculated by the Michigan Department of Education, based on ratings in multiple categories. Sources for data include the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) pass rates, surveys of teacher candidates and their supervisors, and school demographics.
Measure 4: Ability of Completers to be Hired in Education Positions for Which They Have Been Prepared
- Teacher Candidate Certification and Employment Data: This table gives information about teacher certification and employment of School of Education graduates.
