Chapter 1: What Is Academic Success?

Amanda is one of many pre-service teachers in teacher education programs who are faced with the difficult decision cited in the scenario above on whether they should change majors, although they are passionate about becoming teachers. This decision means to give up the career of their dreams and to change to a field that is not their choice. They love children, and they want to teach. Teaching is an occupation that is desired by many preservice teachers; yet, preparing to pass the Praxis Core is a challenge. Preservice teachers may be initially enrolled in a teacher education program; however, they must meet the program requirements that usually follow the state policy on how to prepare teachers. South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) Office of Educator Certification, Recruitment, and Preparation requires that applicants must graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a state-approved teacher education program or a regionally accredited college in order to become certified (SCDE, 2018).