More prospective teachers failing certification tests

ATLANTA - Officials say slightly more aspiring teachers are failing Georgia&#39;s certification tests right when they&#39;re needed most. <br> <br> The Professional Standards Commission says about 20 percent of prospective teachers taking the tests last year failed. <br> <br> That&#39;s a slight increase from three years earlier. At some colleges, more than half of those taking the tests failed the exams they needed to pass to become certified teachers. <br> <br> The highest pass rates were from North Georgia College and State University, the University of Georgia, Agnes Scott College, Oglethorpe University, Covenant College and Toccoa Falls College. Fort Valley State University, Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown College had the lowest passing rates. <br> <br> Education officials say the drop in pass rates comes as enrollment in Georgia&#39;s schools is growing and more qualified teachers are needed, education officials said. <br> <br> Over the last five years, there has been little change in certification pass rates. About 80 percent of those taking the Praxis Two certification tests in 1997 passed, then rates rose to 81.2 percent in 1998-1999. Then about 80 percent passed again last year.

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