Stage II: 11 History of Prior Effectiveness

Arizona State University (ASU) was founded as a normal school in 1886 committed to preparing high-quality educators locally and nationally. Today, ASU offers more than 400 undergraduate degrees and more than 450 graduate degrees in person across multiple campuses and online. 

Arizona State University’s inclusive mission to help people succeed knows no state boundaries. ASU has locations nationwide and throughout California, from the state-of-the-art and award-winning buildings of the ASU California Center in downtown Los Angeles to locations in Long Beach. ASU California Center is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and the center of the world's creative industries. ASU California Center features top-ranked undergraduate and graduate degree programs, from The Sidney Poitier New American Film School to ASU FIDM to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and more. 

Since its inception, the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation (MLFC), formerly Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, has had a reputation as a top educator preparation program. MLFC is headquartered at ASU’s Tempe campus. Today, we are approximately 8,000 students strong, and over the past eight years have been innovating in the educator preparation space, creating programs that are flexible, accessible and transformative. 

MLFC has two divisions: The Division for Advancing Educator Preparation and the Division for Advancing Education Policy, Practice and Leadership. Our proposed programs will be part of the Division for Advancing Educator Preparation. MLFC emphasizes teacher education, community service and academic research. MLFC offers a full spectrum of degree programs, including BAE, MEd, MA, MPE, EdD and PhD in fields such as early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, special education, physical education, and educational administration and supervision. All of MLFC’s educator preparation programs, those at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, are approved Arizona Educator Preparation Programs.  

Through our online graduate educator preparation programs, MLFC currently collaborates with over 90 schools and districts across California, providing a broad range of fieldwork opportunities in both urban and suburban communities. Our partnerships span various regions, including major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, as well as other communities like Riverside, Oakland and Long Beach. This network allows us to place students in diverse educational settings, helping them adapt to different school cultures, student demographics and teaching challenges. These partnerships not only support our students but also benefit the local schools by addressing immediate staffing needs and fostering relationships with emerging educators.

In the fall of 2021, our Division for Advancing Educator Preparation transitioned its graduate educator programs to an online format, broadening access to students across the U.S. and internationally. Despite this expansion, we maintain a strong track record of supporting students who are California residents.

Since fall 2021, students in our graduate teacher educator programs whose undergraduate institution was in California (they earned their bachelor’s degree in CA) have achieved a remarkable persistence rate of 90%. This rate significantly exceeds that of students whose undergraduate institution was in Arizona (81%) and is well above the overall nonresident student persistence rate of 81%. Although the cohort of California-educated students is relatively small (n=29), these outcomes highlight the effectiveness of our programs in meeting their educational needs and underscore our commitment to fostering their success.

Third-party notification enlisting comments should be sent to [email protected]. 

Submission requirements for institutions that already offer educator preparation programs outside of California:

(c) Provide a list of all states and/or countries in which the institution is currently operating an educator preparation program and the status of the institution’s approval in each of those locations.

Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation (MLFC) is approved to offer programs leading to certification by the Arizona State Board of Education pursuant to rule R7-2-604. We have teacher preparation approved programs at the undergraduate level and graduate levels, and we have an approved educational leadership (principal) approved program at the graduate level. 

Evidence of our approvals is posted on the Arizona Department of Education website. 

(d) Provide the most recent copy or report of the following:

• Regional accreditation status

• State-level educator preparation accreditation status for all states in which the institution is approved

Regional accreditation status:

2023 ASU Reaffirmation Review Decision Letter

The website from the Arizona Department of Education provides evidence of MLFC’s accreditation status in Arizona. 

AZ State-Approved Educator Preparation Programs

This spreadsheet outlines the approved MLFC programs with their approval dates and expiration dates: ASU ADE approved educator preparation programs.

(e) Provide data from the most recent five years for the following:

• Number of candidates enrolled in the institution’s program(s)

• Number of educators who have completed program(s)

Spreadsheet 

Number of candidates enrolled in the institution’s program(s) in the past five years: 7,927

Number of educators who have completed program(s): 4,060 

(f) Provide any information available on employment rates for educators who have completed the institution’s program(s).

94% employment rate for educators who have completed the Division for Advancing Educator Preparation programs at the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.

Spreadsheet 

(g) Provide evidence that the institution has fostered positive working relationships with educational partners in California in order to meet local educational needs. Provide the following:

• History of collaboration with local education partners 

and/or

• Information regarding how the institution will work collaboratively with local education partners

Since 2021, when our graduate teacher preparation programs went online to expand our educational outreach, Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation (MLFC) has developed strong partnerships with numerous TK-12 institutions across California to provide high-quality fieldwork experiences for our teacher candidates. 

These partnerships support our mission to prepare future educators by immersing them in diverse, practical environments where they can apply their learning and develop essential teaching skills. Below is an outline of our current partnerships, placement process and the support provided by our Professional Education Services (PES) team to ensure successful field experiences.

a. Overview of Current Partnerships in California

MLFC currently collaborates with over 90 schools and districts across California, providing a broad range of fieldwork opportunities in both urban and suburban communities. Our partnerships span various regions, including major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, as well as other communities like Riverside, Oakland and Long Beach. This network allows us to place students in diverse educational settings, helping them adapt to different school cultures, student demographics and teaching challenges. These partnerships not only support our students but also benefit the local schools by addressing immediate staffing needs and fostering relationships with emerging educators.

b. Process for Matching Students with Professional Field Experience

The process of matching students with professional field experiences is a thoughtful and personalized approach that ensures placements align with both the students' professional goals and the needs of our partner schools. Our PES team works closely with school administrators to identify potential placement opportunities that will be beneficial for both the school and the student. We consider factors such as location, school culture and specific instructional needs to create placements that are mutually rewarding. Once potential matches are identified, we coordinate with schools to finalize placements, ensuring that students are equipped to contribute meaningfully to their field sites from day one.

c. Role of PES and Support Provided to Students

The Professional Education Services (PES) team plays an integral role in supporting students through every phase of their fieldwork experience. This includes:

• Placement coordination: The PES team liaises with our partner schools to coordinate placements, ensuring alignment with both institutional needs and the students’ areas of study.

• Ongoing mentorship and support: Throughout the field experience, our students receive mentorship and support from PES staff, who provide guidance on navigating classroom challenges, meeting professional standards and achieving academic milestones.

Through these strategic partnerships and robust support systems, MLFC is well-positioned to continue providing valuable fieldwork experiences in California, contributing to the state's pipeline of highly qualified educators.

Students’ satisfaction with their Mary Lou Fulton College teacher preparation program is measured continuously during their time in the program, at graduation and afterward. Areas such as instruction quality and career preparation have been used for continuous improvement since the 2014–2015 academic year. The results of these continuous improvement efforts reflect consistently high marks for program satisfaction on preparation, program quality and overall quality of services provided. 
In terms of satisfaction with MLFC’s preparation programs, 94% of undergraduates responded favorably when asked about the quality of instruction and satisfaction with their degree major. In terms of services provided, 90% expressed satisfaction with both career and job skill preparation. 
 

For graduate-level teacher preparation program satisfaction, 92% expressed overall satisfaction with their program, and 87% with program quality. In terms of services, 89% responded as satisfied or very satisfied with their career preparation, and 91% with their professional development.

Satisfaction tables

An Explanation of the Comprehensive Student Support Leading to High Satisfaction Rates

At Arizona State University, our commitment to student success, per the student satisfaction table, is reflected in the wide range of dedicated services we provide. These resources ensure that our students receive the academic, financial, career and wellness support needed to excel in their programs, ultimately contributing to our high satisfaction rates.

University-Wide Support Services
All ASU students have access to an extensive support network, including:

• Academic support network – Tutoring and academic enrichment resources.

• ASU online library – Comprehensive research tools and materials.

• Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services – Ensuring accessibility and inclusive educational experiences.

• Success coaching – Personalized guidance for academic and personal success.

• Veterans center and DREAMzone – Specialized support for military-affiliated students and undocumented students.

• ASU Career Services – Career counseling, job search assistance and professional development.

• Technology support – Ensuring students have access to necessary technological resources.

Students enrolled in the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation (MLFC) receive specialized support and exclusive resources beyond those available to all ASU students. These tailored services are designed to enhance their academic, professional and personal success, ensuring they are well-prepared for careers in education.

Targeted academic advising:
Our Team Educator Prep exclusively supports students in programs leading to teacher and administrator certifications, providing specialized guidance tailored to their career goals.

Exclusive resources for MLFC students:
To ensure student success, we offer personalized support in key areas:

• Financial coaching – Helping students navigate financial planning and resources.

• Academic coaching – Enhancing study strategies and academic performance.

• Career coaching – Providing tailored career planning and job placement support.

• Wellness coaching – Offering holistic support to promote well-being and balance.

Professional Education Services:
A dedicated team supports students in securing internship and student teaching placements, ensuring hands-on experience and a smooth transition into the education workforce.

McGrath Scholarship:
Through the generosity of McGrath Scholarship supporters, private funding is available exclusively to our college’s students, providing critical financial assistance to help them persist and succeed in their journey to graduation.

By offering this extensive network of academic, professional, financial and personal support, we empower our students to thrive — leading to exceptionally high satisfaction rates and successful program completion.