State Certification Testing Services — ACT™

Most SREB states have made arrangements with one or more national testing organizations to provide mandatory or optional testing services for teachers. The Teacher Center makes available information about testing resources and services that SREB states use in assessing teachers with consent of the testing provider. Three national testing organizations provide services in SREB states: ACT™, Educational Testing Service (or ETS™), National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (or NES®).

ACT™ is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides more than a hundred assessment, research, information, and program management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development. ACT™ serves millions of people each year in elementary and secondary schools, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies, nationally and internationally.

For educators, ACT™ offers a series of services through WorkKeys®, a comprehensive system for improving the workforce, and offers a Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants. WorkKeys® can help improve workforce skills, including the skills teachers need, through assessment and career development services.

In addition, ACT™ offers a Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants. This proficiency certificate is "a valid, field-proven way to boost elementary education in the United States, in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act." The proficiency certificate is currently being used in school districts in the following SREB states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. States using WorkKeys testing for teacher assistants implement these tests in different ways.

For more information about ACT™ WorkKeys® and the Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants, visit the ACT™ WorkKeys® website.

• Educational Testing Service (or ETS™)
• National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (or NES®)

Links to SREB State and Related Resources

State Resource AL Alabama Department of Education AR Arkansas Department of Education DE Delaware Department of Education FL Florida Department of Education GA Georgia Professional Standards Commission KY Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board LA Louisiana Department of Education LA TeachLouisiana MD Maryland Department of Education MS Mississippi Department of Education NC Department of Public Instruction, Licensure Section SC South Carolina Department of Education TN Tennessee Department of Education TX Texas State Board for Educator Certification VA Virginia Department of Education WV West Virginia Department of Education - Office of Professional Preparation