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edTPA Information

What is edTPA?

"edTPA is a preservice assessment process designed by educators to answer the essential question: 'Is a new teacher ready for the job?' edTPA includes a review of a teacher candidate's authentic teaching materials as the culmination of a teaching and learning process that documents and demonstrates each candidate's ability to effectively teach his/her subject matter to all students" (AACTE, 2013, p. 1).

edTPA for New York State

View the edTPA guidelines.

"edTPA is a student-centered multiple measure assessment of teaching. It is designed to be educative and predicting of effective teaching and student learning. Stanford University faculty and staff at Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity (SCALE) developed edTPA. They received substantive advice and feedback from teachers and teacher educators" (NYSCTE, 2013, p.1).

edTPA at SUNY Cortland

The edTPA is a subject specific performance assessment. While there are 27 different versions of the edTPA which align with different subject areas, all edTPA versions have a similar structure in that they have candidates complete three main tasks: Planning, Instruction and Assessment.  SUNY Cortland provides edTPA information and support to candidates in all the campus’ initial teacher certification programs both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The current versions of edTPA that are supported at SUNY Cortland are:

  • Early Childhood Education
  • Elementary Education (Childhood 1-6)
  • English as an Additional Language
  • K-12 Health Education
  • Secondary (English Language Arts, Mathematics, History/Social Studies, and Science)
  • K-12 Physical Education
  • Special Education
  • World Languages

edTPA Support at SUNY Cortland

Teacher candidates receive much of their preparation for completing the edTPA through their coursework prior to student teaching.  Dr. Chris Widdall, edTPA Coordinator and Advisor, offers edTPA workshops for groups of candidates upon the request of program faculty and/or student teaching supervisors.  Candidates can also contact Dr. Widdall (Chris.Widdall@cortland.edu) directly with questions.