Teacher Candidate Progress Review
Policy Statement
The faculty and staff (including clinical and student teaching personnel) of the School of Education recognize that all individuals seeking certification may not meet certain minimal professional standards; therefore, a procedure has been established to identify and to counsel candidates in need of directed guidance. Additional measures may be taken if deemed necessary. The referral process may lead to the candidate's removal from the teacher education program(s).
The School of Education 's Teacher Candidate Progress Review Committee is charged to oversee the development and assessment of knowledge, skills, and dispositions among educator certification candidates as assessed by the multiple measures of the Teacher Education Assessment System. Academic and non-academic misconduct (plagiarism, cheating, etc.) are referred directly to the Office of Student Life as outlined in the university's handbook.
If issues related to the progress of candidates are identified, a referral is initiated using the Teacher Candidate Progress Review Referral Form, and the candidate receives a copy of the referral. The director of the School of Education will forward a copy to the candidate's advisor, the Academic Assistant to the Dean / Certification Officer, Department Chair, and the Content Liaison, where appropriate. There are three types of referrals: 1) notice of concern, 2) automatic referral and, 3) program referral.
Notice of Concern
A candidate receives a written notice of concern from a concerned faculty or staff member. The notice of concern is placed in the candidate's permanent file. If two notices of concern are received, the candidate is automatically referred to the Committee by the director of the School of Education.
Candidates enrolled in pupil services certification programs (School Psychology): each notice of concern will be sent to the program director. The program will work with the candidate to develop an action plan.
Automatic Referral(s) to the Teacher Candidate Progress Review Committee
Examples include but are not limited to:
- An issue needing immediate intervention related to the candidate's knowledge, skills, and/or dispositions is identified, a referral will be made.
- Review of candidate g.p.a. (Cumulative, major, minor, concentrations, core) occurs after completion of program benchmarks. Candidates with GPAs below expectation receive written notification from the Assistant to the Dean, after consultation; referral to the Committee may occur.
- Review of candidate Praxis II scores occurs upon receipt to the university. Candidates with scores below the passing mark receive written notification from the Assistant to the Dean, after consultation, referral to the Committee may occur.
- Review of candidate portfolios occurs at program benchmarks. Candidates not meeting specific program guidelines receive written notification from the Portfolio Mentor. After consultation with the Portfolio Mentor, referral to the Committee may occur.
Program Referral(s) to the Teacher Candidate Progress Review Committee
Faculty and staff (including clinical and student teaching personnel) who have concerns about a candidate's knowledge, skills, and/or dispositions as described within the Teacher Education's Programs Standards, shall document and initiate the referral process by completing the appropriate Teacher Candidate Progress Review Referral Form. For the purpose of facilitating the referral process, the following procedures are followed:
- The faculty or staff discuss the referral with the candidate and provides him/her with a copy of the referral form.
- The faculty or staff member delivers the Referral Form to the appropriate program director or department chair. The faculty involved decide if the referral form is to be sent to the Teacher Candidate Progress Review Committee or remediated within the program. The candidate is notified regarding the decision within two weeks regarding action or remediation plan. If the remediation plan is unacceptable to the candidate, he/she may appeal the plan to the Committee.
- If so deemed, referral forms, and the referred student's academic record(s) and performance, are reviewed by the Committee at the next monthly meeting in which they are received.