How EPiC™ Strengthens Teacher Preparation

Meeting every candidate where they are — with differentiated support, Evidence-First™ feedback, and affordable access for all.

In today’s classrooms, teacher candidates arrive with a wide range of strengths and needs, and they deserve an assessment that recognizes their journey and supports their growth every step of the way.

The EPiC™ (Evaluating Pedagogy in the Classroom) Key Assessment was designed with this belief at its core. Built by education preparation providers for educators, EPiC empowers teacher candidates and EPPs alike by offering differentiated support, personalized feedback, and real-time data tracking — all while maintaining accessibility and affordability.

Differentiated Support for Candidates

EPiC recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all path to becoming an effective teacher. Candidates may come from traditional four-year education programs, alternative certification pathways, or even career changes later in life. EPiC is intentionally flexible, allowing candidates to demonstrate their skills within their authentic classroom settings — whether they are teaching early childhood special education, middle school science, or high school art.

This approach respects each candidate’s journey, removing barriers that a rigid, standardized assessment model might impose. By allowing candidates to highlight their instructional strengths within real-world contexts, EPiC promotes success across a wide range of educational settings and backgrounds.

Personalized, Evidence-First™ Feedback

Traditional assessments can sometimes allow bias, even unconsciously, to shape scoring. EPiC’s Evidence-First™ scoring process eliminates this risk by focusing solely on observable, documented evidence from classroom instruction. Scorers use clear, objective criteria tied directly to what the candidate does and says with students, ensuring every evaluation is fair, transparent, and actionable.

Candidates receive meaningful insights into their strengths and areas for growth, empowering them to improve their practice in ways that are specific to their needs and not based on generalizations or assumptions. Unlike traditional assessments that often force evidence into rigid rubric categories, EPiC focuses first on what is observable in the submitted assessment. This approach ensures that feedback is authentic, nuanced, and genuinely reflective of the candidate’s instructional practice.

Tracking and Responding to Candidate Needs

Through the EPiC Support Dashboard, EPPs can monitor aggregate data to identify trends, spot pedagogical gaps, and provide targeted supports. For example, if data indicates that candidates struggle to effectively engage English Language Learners or students with disabilities, providers can tailor coaching and professional development accordingly. This ensures that all candidates — and by extension, all their future students — receive the support they need.

Affordability and Access

Economic barriers often limit access to high-quality teacher preparation experiences. EPiC was intentionally designed to be an affordable solution, costing just $99 per candidate for as long as they remain enrolled in the teacher preparation program. Unlike other assessments that charge additional fees for remediation or retakes, EPiC™ puts control in the hands of the EPPs. Each provider determines its own remediation process, meaning candidates do not face unexpected costs if they need additional support to meet expectations.

Preparing effective teachers requires more than a checklist — it demands thoughtful, evidence-driven support from start to finish. EPiC makes this possible by ensuring that every candidate’s growth is measured authentically, guided by actionable feedback, and nurtured without unnecessary barriers.

Through its differentiated design, commitment to real evidence, and affordable, accessible model, EPiC™ empowers both candidates and EPPs to succeed.