The action research methodology for this study reports findings from the performance of 19 Early Childhood Education African American teacher candidates matriculating through a state-approved program at an HBCU. The action researchers suggest that continued research and a larger sample size is
needed to provided empirical evidence of the causal variables and factors that affect candidate performance on the examination. However, the observed phenomena and semi-structured follow-up reflections of the first-time passers may promote evidence of Maslow’s motivation theory in practice and the intrinsic love for teaching by the candidates who participated in the treatment and successfully passed the test. More