Building strong readers from day one 

A recent study from ETS and AERDF reported that 44% of upper-elementary teachers say their students struggle with grade-level reading materials. In response, states are increasingly embedding evidence-based teaching practices into teacher preparation and licensure.  

To support strong early reading outcomes across the nation, at least 29 states and Washington, D.C. have enacted legislation requiring evidence-based reading instruction across teacher preparation, licensure, professional development, or curriculum. Teacher licensure expectations are rising, and so is the demand for assessments that reflect what effective teaching looks like in today’s classrooms. 

National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) data  show that at least 20 states now require elementary teacher candidates to pass a licensure test grounded in the science of reading.  

In Louisiana, a series of legislative acts now require K-3 teachers to complete coursework aligned to the science of reading and pass a dedicated reading instruction exam for initial licensure.  

Oregon has taken a similar approach: beginning in 2026, newly licensed teachers must complete a curriculum that integrates reading instruction with dyslexia standards and aligns with science-based methods. 

The new Elementary Education Fundamentals: Reading and Language Arts (8002) and Teaching Reading (8006) tests are designed to reflect the shift in reading instruction. Grounded in the science of reading, evidence-based research on how children learn to read, the tests evaluate candidates’ understanding of explicit, systematic instruction in foundational skills, including phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The result is a licensure assessment that better ensures incoming teachers are prepared to support all students in becoming proficient readers. 

Updated math, science, and social studies content 

Beyond literacy, the tests align with modern benchmarks, including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) frameworks, the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)), and cover the content and skills that are relevant for today’s classrooms.  

Candidates will be assessed on science-focused items emphasizing inquiry and real-world problem-solving (reflecting NGSS practices). Math sections focus on deep conceptual understanding as well as fluency, while social studies is designed to align with the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards Inquiry Arc. This approach helps ensure new teachers entering the field have demonstrated mastery of the same concepts and skills that states now require in elementary curricula. 

Helping future teachers succeed, one Step at a time 

The new Elementary Education Fundamentals tests will be the first Praxis tests to offer a modular feature, a format informed by both educator feedback and learning science. ETS researchers Teresa Ober, Caitlin Tenison, and Geoffrey Phelps reported at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) that difficulty varies significantly across Praxis Elementary topic areas, supporting the value of modular designs to facilitate targeted study and preparation support.

Known as Praxis Steps, the new modular format will allow candidates to progress at their own pace, retake only what’s needed, and use insights for continued improvement and readiness. This structure gives candidates more control over their testing journey—with the goal of saving time, reducing test anxiety, and supporting stronger outcomes. 

Praxis Steps capabilities will be available for the new Elementary Education Fundamentals tests in summer 2026—just in time for the new school year. 

States and educator preparation programs also benefit from this modular design: they receive granular data on candidate performance, helping them pinpoint areas where additional instructional support might be needed.  

Built for today’s classrooms, backed by today’s research 

The Praxis Elementary Education Fundamentals tests are strategic response to align licensure with new standards and cutting-edge research to help address the national call for better-prepared teachers.  

The Praxis Steps modular feature can support educator success by giving future teachers a more supportive path to licensure, helping ensure that more students receive high-quality instruction in literacy, math, social studies and science from the very start.