Providing all educators with the tools and support they need to succeed is crucial. The EPiC™ Key Assessment and its aligned support tools are at the forefront of promoting a more equitable and accessible approach to teacher preparation. This innovative assessment tool offers a transformative solution for Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) by delivering personalized, evidence-based insights that foster continuous improvement in teaching effectiveness.
One of the standout features of the EPiC Key Assessment is its flexibility. Unlike traditional performance-based assessments that can be rigid and limited in scope, the EPiC Key Assessment utilizes a single, adaptable handbook that supports evaluation across all content areas. Developed by a consortium of educators and researchers, this assessment tool is designed to meet state requirements while providing a valid and reliable measure of pre-service teachers' strengths and needs.
This versatility ensures that the assessment is comprehensive and accessible to a wide range of educational contexts. Whether an EPP specializes in elementary, secondary, or a specific subject area, the EPiC Key Assessment can seamlessly integrate into its preparation assessment process.
To support candidates preparing for the EPiC Key Assessment, the EPiC Support Dashboard provides EPPs with multiple tools for monitoring teacher candidate progress, identifying trends, and making data-driven decisions that effectively support candidate needs. The EPiC Support Dashboard includes:
EPiC Key Assessment: Candidates complete a comprehensive, rigorously-validated performance assessment based on 10 InTASC-aligned rubrics. Providers use individual results to confirm candidate proficiency and summative results to measure longitudinal program trends.
LoTi Survey for Teacher Candidates: Candidates self-report about their skills and practices at the beginning, middle, and end of the program. Providers use summative reports to chart candidate growth as the program progresses and to measure longitudinal program trends.
EPiC Practice Modules: Candidates practice key elements of the EPiC assessment following related program coursework to improve their confidence with the analysis and reflection process. Providers monitor candidate's understanding of key concepts during the program and address weaknesses in real-time with added support.
EPP Candidate Observation: Candidates teach in the classroom. EPP field observers document progress with best practices and provide one-on-one coaching/feedback to candidates throughout the program.
PD Bytes: These compact professional development modules are designed to address specific areas where candidates may struggle. EPP observers and mentors recommend specific PD Bytes based on practice module responses or classroom observation data to ensure that candidates receive relevant and actionable professional development when it's needed most.
Cost can be a significant barrier to accessing high-quality assessment tools, but the EPiC Key Assessment addresses this concern head-on. Priced at just $99 per candidate for the assessment and support dashboard tools, EPiC proves to be an affordable solution for EPPs of all sizes. Moreover, the EPiC Key Assessment is designed with an equitable approach in mind. Teacher candidates do not pay additional fees to revise and improve areas where they may have struggled; the one-time fee upholds our commitment to supporting candidate success and fostering a growth mindset among educators.
At its core, the EPiC Key Assessment is about fostering continuous improvement in teaching practices. Offering personalized, data-driven insights empowers educators to identify areas of strength and growth. This flexible, affordable, and supportive assessment solution represents a commitment to equity and access in education while empowering EPPs and pre-service teachers alike to achieve their full potential.
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