More than half of prospective elementary teachers in Colorado fail their licensure exams on the first try, and of those who fail, 40% donât try again, according to new data from the National Council on Teacher Quality. Only 46% of state elementary teacher candidates pass their exam on the first try, similar to the national average. Teacher candidates of color are more likely to fail on a first attempt than their white counterparts â and slightly more likely to not try again, derailing those studentsâ aspirations, and hindering efforts to build a more diverse teacher workforce that would benefit all students. For example, at the University of Northern Colorado, the stateâs largest teacher prep program, 45% of elementary test-takers passed on their first try, compared with 33% of test-takers of color at the school.