Information on Candidate Professional Development Portfolios
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requires that each candidate who prepares for a teaching career must have a portfolio of evidence documenting that the standards required for a teaching license have been met (PI 34.13). Candidates must accept the responsibility to develop, maintain, and build a Professional Development Portfolio throughout the teacher education program at UW-La Crosse. For the most part, the evidence of sufficient performance is accomplished through the standards-based course assignments throughout the professional sequence. Each candidate is expected to organize the portfolio in a professional manner, to reflect upon the artifacts, and to formally present the portfolio at designated times during the course of studies. Any candidate not meeting the program requirements will be referred to the Teacher Candidate Progress Review committee. The referral process may lead to the candidate's removal from the teacher education program(s).
What is a Professional Development Portfolio?
In a Professional Development Portfolio, the candidate reflects on growth of knowledge, skills, and dispositions over time. The Teacher Education faculty at UW-La Crosse firmly believes candidates must take ownership of the portfolio experience. For the purpose of meeting the UW-La Crosse Teacher Education Programs requirements, candidates are evaluated on the ten UW-La Crosse Teacher Education Standards which is based on a 2-point rubric (sufficient/insufficient). We recognize that growth does not stop once the candidate receives a sufficient mark. As pre-service teachers, individual candidates accept responsibility to continue personal reflection as related to each standard throughout their academic and professional career, and set goals to further enhance and develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions.