Learn more about UPIKE and why it is the right choice for you.
See if UPIKE is a good fit for you and take the next steps in becoming a student.
The vision for the College of Dental Medicine is to be known and respected for service, innovation, clinical excellence and interprofessional education.
We are practitioners of the healing arts defining the standard for excellence in optometric education and vision care.
Our D.O. medical school is nationally ranked and recognized for a reputation of excellence in rural medicine and family healthcare. UPIKE’s osteopathy program gives you a clear path to success in the medical field.
Explore our online undergraduate and graduate programs and learn more about earning your degree at UPIKE.
By: Amy Charles | June 17, 2026
The undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program at the University of Pikeville (UPIKE) Patton College of Education (PCOE) has earned an “A” from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for how well they prepare future teachers to teach reading to elementary students.
The report, “Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation,” published on June 9, spotlights UPIKE for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.
A child’s ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life, yet according to NAEP data, four in ten fourth graders in Kentucky cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that—but only if it is aligned with research-based instructional methods proven to help most students become successful readers.
UPIKE is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide, helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.
“This recognition from NCTQ affirms what we have always believed — that strong teacher preparation is the foundation of student success,” said Dean of PCOE Coletta Parsley, Ed.D. “When we prepare our candidates well in evidence-based reading instruction, the children they teach are the ones who truly benefit. We are proud of this rating and remain committed to that endeavor.”
PCOE prepares future educators through four-year degree programs leading to teacher certification at the elementary, middle grades and secondary levels. Within the elementary program, instruction aligns with the science of reading and emphasizes the five essential components of reading instruction, ensuring that teacher candidates are prepared to support elementary students as they develop strong literacy skills.
“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 University of Pikeville is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”
NCTQ’s methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates, and measurement experts. To evaluate the quality of preparation being provided, a team of experts at NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates at UPIKE.
To earn an “A,” programs needed to demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction.
“This rating is the result of faculty who are deeply committed to the science of reading and candidates who rise to meet that challenge,” said Parsley. “We are incredibly proud of this recognition.”
See NCTQ’s report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation for more information about UPIKE’s coverage of the science of reading and to see how the university compares to other programs in Kentucky or across the country.
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.