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When students at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) graduate with their bachelor’s degree in education, they’ve taken the first step to becoming teachers. To earn their license to teach, they must take and pass the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) exam.

In the past year, the percentage of GGC graduates that took the exam and passed was an impressive 94%. In all, 217 students took the GACE exam in the areas of special education, elementary education, and in middle grades math, science, social science, history and English.

Last year, the pass rate was 93%.

“The quality education our students receive is a reflection of the success rate we have for the GACE exam,” said Dr. Angie Jasper, dean of GGC’s School of Education. “This also speaks to the dedication of our faculty and staff, along with the determination and passion our students have during their journey to becoming a teacher.”

The GACE exam, said Jasper, is challenging. Georgia educators developed it to help ensure that teachers are competent on the materials taught in P-12 classrooms across the state.

“It is a tough exam, and it should be to help ensure that teachers earning their license are qualified to help shape the minds of students across Georgia,” she said. “Teaching is a highly respected profession.”