The edTPA is a costly, unproven, and restrictive exam administered by Pearson Education, Inc. to evaluate teacher candidates in NYS. There is no research with empirical evidence in support of the exam’s stated benefits. Yet, State and Federal tax dollars continue to be used to fund the implementation of the exam as a certification requirement. This money-making enterprise is counterproductive to the licensing of teaching professionals in NYS and a mechanism of discrimination. There are reasons why the teaching profession is viewed unfavorably by many, especially during an education crisis, and the edTPA is one of them.

Please see below for more details on the petition. 

You do not have to be a teacher or a teacher candidate to support. 

Let's stand together to tell Albany that a for profit company should not be benefiting off of hardworking taxpayers and teachers and should not be deciding who gets to be a NYS teacher!

"Pearson's profits are all from student exam fees, which means Pearson makes its money when students fail. According to UUP Vice President for Academics Jamie Dangler 'This means Pearson has little incentive to fix flawed exams, since they profit when students take and retake them. With four new teacher certification exams in New York State administered by Pearson, students can spend up to $1,000 or more to take and retake tests.' - Huff Post 2016 

We, the undersigned, are concerned constituents who urge our leaders to act now to eliminate the edTPA from the teacher certification process in New York State for the following reasons: 

• There is no research or evidence to support that the edTPA is a reliable method for evaluating or choosing teacher candidates. However, state and federal tax dollars are still being used to fund the implementation of the exam.
• The edTPA is a high-stakes test, due to teacher certification being dependent on its successful completion. As such, it is of utmost importance that this exam be administered and evaluated by qualified teaching professionals. Unfortunately, as it stands, the exam is not scored by qualified teacher evaluators familiar with the teacher candidate. Instead, Pearson Education, Inc. hires temporary workers at its own discretion to indirectly decide who receives teaching licenses. 
• Furthermore, the edTPA costs student-teachers $300 per submission. As you may know, student-teachers receive no compensation for hours they spend in the classroom and must also self-fund their participation in a teacher-certification program. In addition to the edTPA, student-teachers must also pay to take three other certification exams required by NYS. If a teacher candidate receives an “incomplete” on any portion of the edTPA portfolio, he/she must pay additionally for resubmission. 
• Pearson Education, Inc. is profiting from hard-working taxpayers and student-teachers. This money-making enterprise is counterproductive to the licensing of teaching professionals in NYS, as there is no research with empirical data available in support of the exam’s benefits.     
• By implementing the edTPA, NYS has created another hurdle to the teaching profession that is deterring future generations of teachers, disproportionately affecting those from lower-income groups. Costly examinations are mechanisms of discrimination, working against achieving equity in the profession.