Passage Preparation and AAQEP: Advancing Excellence in Educator Preparation Together

Passage Preparation and AAQEP: Advancing Excellence in Educator Preparation Together

Last week in Tempe, Arizona, the warm desert sun played host to an equally energizing gathering of minds committed to the future of education. The 2025 AAQEP Annual Meeting—hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Quality in Educator Preparation—brought together education leaders, faculty, and stakeholders from across the country. Each attendee shared one goal: ensuring every educator enters the classroom fully prepared to make a difference in the lives of students.

As a trusted provider of educator licensure exam support and a steadfast champion of excellence in education, Passage Preparation was proud to support this important event.

Supporting AAQEP’s Mission for High-Quality Educator Preparation

As a supporter and enthusiastic participant of this year’s conference, Passage Preparation reaffirmed its alignment with AAQEP’s mission: to foster innovation, continuous improvement, and high standards in educator preparation programs (EPPs).

This year’s meeting served not only as a professional development forum but as a vibrant community of practice—one rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a belief in the transformative power of great educators.

A Shared Vision for Elevating the Profession

Passage Preparation’s involvement in the AAQEP conference was no accident. Our partnership is built on a shared philosophy: that investing in educator preparation is one of the most consequential decisions we can make for our society.

AAQEP’s rigorous accreditation process ensures that preparation providers are held to the highest standards—ones that reflect what educators truly need to thrive: both strong pedagogical skills and deep content knowledge.

This commitment to quality, support, and continuous growth mirrors our mission at Passage Preparation: to help aspiring educators not only pass their licensure exams, but also become confident, capable, and reflective practitioners.

High standards shouldn’t be seen as barriers—they should be gateways. With the right tools, mentorship, and support, every aspiring educator can succeed.

AAQEP doesn’t treat accreditation as a checklist. Its framework encourages reflection, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed decision-making—an approach that aligns with how we at Passage Preparation think about readiness and impact.

Collegiality in Action at the AAQEP 2025 Annual Meeting

If there’s one word that captures the spirit of the 2025 AAQEP Annual Meeting, it’s collegiality.

From the opening plenary to the final breakout session, the atmosphere was collaborative and deeply respectful. Conversations flowed—whether over morning coffee or during expert-led panels. Attendees weren’t just presenting—they were listening, learning, and building connections.

The Passage Preparation team attended sessions on:

• Innovations in educator assessment
• Supporting underrepresented teacher candidates
• Field placement challenges and solutions
• Transformational stories from EPPs nationwide

The recurring theme? We’re stronger together. Whether we were chatting with a faculty member from a rural college or a licensure director from an urban university, the message was clear: no one is navigating this work alone. And with partners like AAQEP and Passage Preparation, institutions have the resources, tools, and support to meet today’s challenges head-on.

Looking Ahead: Innovation, Partnership, and Purpose

Amid challenges like the national teacher shortage and changing education policies, the mood at AAQEP’s conference remained one of optimism and shared resolve. The educator preparation community is resilient, future-focused, and deeply committed to doing the work.

Passage Preparation is proud to stand alongside AAQEP and its network of accredited institutions, committed to elevating educator preparation through collaboration, reflection, and courageous action.

Looking forward, we are excited to:

• Co-host educator workshops with AAQEP partners
• Expand licensure-aligned curriculum support
• Continue research into what drives educator success and retention

There is much to be done—and we’re ready for it.

Final Thoughts: Gratitude and Momentum

To every attendee, presenter, and participant at the 2025 AAQEP Annual Meeting: thank you. Your passion, expertise, and commitment to equity are shaping a better future—not just for teacher candidates, but for the countless students they will impact.

To AAQEP: thank you for creating a space where accountability meets collegiality, and where innovation thrives.

Together, we are raising the bar—not just for passing scores or accreditation milestones, but for the entire profession of teaching.

Because every child deserves a great teacher.
And every great teacher deserves a strong start.

Here’s to the work ahead—and to doing it together.