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All candidates pursuing undergraduate degrees in teacher education must meet the established admission, progression, and graduation requirements outlined in the Teacher Education Program Requirements. These requirements include academic prerequisites, testing benchmarks, field placement expectations, and performance assessments mandated for advancement through the program.
Teacher Education Committee
Teacher education is an institution-wide committee at William Carey University. The committee broadly represents the departments interested in the preparation of teachers for elementary and secondary schools.
The teacher education committee formulates and reviews policies for teacher education consistent with state law and subject to the approval of the university administration. These policies deal with dispositions, philosophy and objectives, organization and administration, curricula, and student personnel services. Curriculum changes must be approved by the academic council and/or the undergraduate committee.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Teacher education programs at William Carey University are designed to meet the professional competency standards for licensure in Mississippi. Completion of a teacher education program does not guarantee licensure. The student must meet all requirements specified by the Mississippi Department of Education and current law, which are subject to change after publication of this catalog. The current requirements for licensure, if different from those described herein, shall supersede this publication.
Students who intend to apply for licensure in Mississippi should refer to the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure (http://mdek12.org/OEL) for the most current licensure requirements, application procedures, and deadlines.
William Carey University cannot determine whether any program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi. Students who intend to seek licensure in another state should complete the NC-SARA process. verify that their program of study at WCU meets the desired state’s licensure requirements prior to enrolling.
Selective Admission and Retention in Teacher Education
I. Program Admission Requirements and Procedures
A. Students must apply for admission to the professional program in teacher education prior to or at the beginning of enrollment in education
B. Students should apply for admission by the end of their sophomore year in college. Transfer students should apply prior as recommended by an advisor.
C. Students enrolled in education courses must have clearance of criminal background checks prior to participating in clinical activities (field-based practica). After initial enrollment, any subsequent disciplinary actions, arrests, charges, addiction, or impairment (alcohol or drugs) shall also be reported immediately to the dean of education. Failure to report all subsequent disciplinary actions, arrests, charges, addiction, or impairment will constitute falsification of records and may result in denial of licensure as an educator. All students must complete a certified background check that includes fingerprinting. After the report has been processed, the student will receive an ID card which is to be present and provided to K12 administration at all field experience locations.
D. The School of Education provides students liability insurance from Mississippi Professional Educators before field experience begins.
E. Students must be formally admitted to teacher education before being allowed to take 300-level major education courses
F. Prior to formal admission to teacher education, elementary education, secondary and K-12 education majors must meet one of the following criteria:
- ACT Composite Score of 21 or above and a 2.5+ GPA.
- ·Qualifying Scores on the Praxis Core Reading (156), Writing (162), and Math (130) and a 2.5+ GPA.
- Complete 60 hours which must include the General Education Curriculum with 3.0+ GPA.
G. All applications for admission to teacher education are processed by the School of Education faculty. A file will be maintained on each student. Admission requirements are subject to change should the Mississippi Department of Education change licensure requirements.
H. Students who make proper application will be admitted to teacher education and be referred to as teacher candidates when they meet these requirements for Transition Point One (admission/core).
I. All coursework that will be applied to an endorsement area must have a C or above.KK
II. Program Progression Requirements
Phase 1: Admitted to the University
- Complete the General Education Curriculum/Bachelor of Science curriculum for education majors (31 hours) with a 2.5 or above GPA.
Phase 2: Pre-Admission
A. Complete remaining general education, interdisciplinary, and readiness courses (30-31 hours). (May be taken prior to OR once admitted to Teacher Ed.)
B. Submit application for Teacher Application
C. Must have completed a background check with fingerprinting and received clearance
D. Admission to the Teacher Education Program requires one of the following:
- Qualifying Scores on the Praxis Core Reading (156), Writing (162), and Math (130) and a 2.5+ GPA.
- ACT Composite Score of 21 or above and a 2.75+ GPA.
- Complete the General Education Curriculum/Bachelor of Science curriculum for education majors (60 hours) with a 3.0+ GPA.
E. Continuous Enrollment - Once a student passes the criminal background check and/or is admitted to a teacher education licensure program, continuous enrollment is recommended. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment (fall and spring terms) must seek readmission to the university and may be required to seek readmission to teacher education. Readmission to teacher education may require the student to meet additional academic requirements and/or to pass a subsequent criminal background check.
F. Complete all degree coursework with a minimum grade of ‘C’.
G. Maintain a 2.5+ cumulative GPA.
H. Meet Professional Dispositions expectations.
I. Elementary Education majors must have attempted the Pearson Foundations of Reading examination prior to beginning the first 8 weeks of student teaching
J. Teacher candidates are encouraged to take the professional knowledge (Principles of Learning and Teaching - PLT) and the specialty area examinations (PRAXIS II) prior to student teaching and Residency II.
Phase 3: Admission to Student Teaching
A. All teacher candidates should have attempted the PLT and PRAXIS II prior to beginning the second 8 weeks of student teaching and must have attempted prior to graduation.
B. During Residency II, students must score a minimum of 80% on the following statewide common measures:
- Professional Dispositions – Scored by the University Supervisor
- TIAI Evaluations – Scored by the University Supervisor and Cooperating Teacher
- Impact on Student Learning Assignment – Scored by the University Supervisor
C. Courses from a community college may be used toward degree requirements; however transfer students must meet the University level requirements of upper-level (300 and above) hours.
III. K-12 and Secondary Subject Areas
In addition to elementary education, William Carey University offers K-12 and secondary teacher education programs. K-12 education programs include music (choral and instrumental). Secondary education programs include English, mathematics, and social studies. All programs adhere to the same admission, progression, professional standards, and academic rigor as stated herein. Each program requires completion of the General Education Curriculum, professional education courses, and courses within the specialty area of study and licensure. Except for music education, which requires its own set of professional education courses, all teacher education programs require, at a minimum, the following professional education courses:
IV. Professional Standards
The Education Professional Standards Committee formally reviews the status of students formally admitted to the professional program in teacher education and takes appropriate action in the following instances:
- at each phase of the program;
- when advisors or other faculty members request to review the continued eligibility of a student;
- when advisors, faculty, or host school personnel recognize continual disposition-related infractions by a teacher candidate;
- when the grades of a teacher candidate warrant such a review such as when the student has consistent failing grades and failure to make timely progress;
- Prior to enrolling in Residency I and Residency II;
- when the supervising teacher (university and/or site-based), the school principal, or the director of teacher education indicates unsatisfactory progress in Residency I or Residency II; and
- when the teacher candidate completes Residency II and the program advisor approves the final review of program for graduation and licensure.
V. Residency II - Student Teaching
A teacher candidate may enroll in Residency I and II - Student Teaching (EDU 4780 and EDU 4830 /EDU 4840 in one of the cooperating school districts during his/her senior year provided the following requirements have been met:
- Senior standing (completed at least 90 semester hours).
- Have been admitted to teacher education for one semester.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA > 2.5.
- Have a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all professional education courses.
- Have a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all courses in major teaching field.
- Hold a valid Pre-service License from the Mississippi Department of Education.
- Have approval of the chair of the curriculum and instruction department and director of teacher education.
- Must pass all coursework, have the approval of the director of teacher education, and have attempted all licensure exams required by Mississippi Department of Education.
- Must have completed all specialty and professional courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’.
- Special permission from the chair of the department of curriculum and instruction must be secured to take courses during or after Residency I and II.
Licensure applications cannot be processed until all requirements are met.
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