Wartburg College has received national recognition for its elementary-education teaching program.

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education honored Wartburg’s elementary-education program this month following a review by the Association for Childhood Education International, a specialized professional association.

ACEI evaluated Wartburg students’ scores on assessment tests and student-teaching evaluations done by cooperating teachers in Northeast Iowa school districts and in the Denver, Colo., area, where the Wartburg West program is located.

Wartburg students had a 100 percent pass rate the past three years on the Praxis Elementary Education Content Assessment tests, which address ACEI standards, including development, learning and motivation; curriculum (reading, writing, and oral language); and instruction.

“Institutions must provide evidence that candidates in their programs know the content of their field and how to teach it effectively and apply it in their role as a school leader,” said Dr. Cheryl O’Brien, chair of Wartburg’s education department. “The national recognition means we have an elementary-education program that meets the highest standards.”

Wartburg is one of only four Iowa colleges and universities with teaching education programs accredited by NCATE, which O’Brien called “the standard of excellence in teacher preparation,” and is one of two in Iowa to be nationally recognized by the organization for its elementary-education program.