By Ralph Derickson

The elementary education graduate program was ranked 22nd among the nation's 187 graduate education programs, tied with several universities.

The elementary education graduate program at UK was ranked 22^nd among the nation’s 187 graduate education programs.  The UK program was tied with several universities including the University of California – Berkeley, University of Arizona and the University of Kansas.

The UK education program ranking was based on three factors: reputations of faculty members, national interest in KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act) and faculty collaboration with colleagues in public schools.

“Faculty members in the elementary education graduate program have excellent reputations among their peers in social studies, language arts, science, mathematics and reading," said Shirley Raines, dean of the UK College of Education.   "With the attention given to KERA, the graduate program’s faculty are in demand to present their research and program changes in teacher education to a national audience,” Raines added.

Graduate students in UK's elementary education program often teach while enrolled in courses.  For example, the Professional Development School at Lexington's Squires Elementary is a “living laboratory” for university and public school teachers.  Their collaboration improves the quality of public school teaching and also gives college professors ideas to improve the preparation of those who will become teachers.

U.S. News publishes its national graduate school rankings annually in hard copy and on the web in "U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Graduate Schools."  Complete rankings of specialty programs can be found on the news magazine’s website.