Indiana State University Newsroom

For students planning to attend Indiana State University and studying to be a teacher, the university is offering some additional incentive.

New students entering into the education program at ISU who have passed the Praxis I exam can receive a $100 Drake Praxis Award. Transfer students, who have earned an associate's degree and passed the exam are eligible for a $400 Drake Textbook Award.

"Since the exam is a requirement for licensing and a gateway into certain professional education courses in the teacher education degree programs, we are attempting to use this award as an incentive for students to take the exam early so they are not delayed in their program," said BrianColdren, associate director of education student services.

The scholarship began in the fall semester of 2009 with new and transfer students who declare an education major receiving the one-time award, if they have passed the exam.

"Indiana is one of many states that use the Praxis I as one of the requirements for an instructional license," Coldren said.

The Praxis I Tests measure basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The passing scores are 176 for reading, 172 for writing and 175 for math. The tests help to evaluate whether students have the academic skills needed to prepare for a career in education.

For students who do not score well enough the exam, Indiana State faculty and advisors aid them in finding university resources to help prepare them for future attempts.

Larry Tinnerman will lead two study sessions for the reading portion of the exam this semester in University Hall. They are Feb. 24 and March 24 from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Both study session are going to be in University Hall.

Web sites to help students prepare for the exam are: www.praxsprep.ning.com and http://www.testprepreview.com/praxis_practice.htm.

For more information on the scholarship visit: http://indstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_doQg9NrhWdDSNA8&SVID=Prod

Students will need to register for the Praxis Exam at http://www.ets.org/praxis.

-30-

Contact: Brian Coldren, Indiana State University, associate director of Education Student Services, at Brian.Coldren@indstate.edu or 812-237-3131.

Writer: Kendra Thomas, Indiana State University, media relations intern, kthomas19@indstate.edu or 812-237-3773