Page Comparison

Entrance requirements for admission to Teacher Education

For admission to the teacher education program at EMU, you must make formal application for admission by November 30 of your sophomore year or junior year for transfer students. Application information and requirements are sent via e-mail and special memos to students. These applications are acted upon by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee based on consideration of the following requirements (also found at http://www.emu.edu/education/3-steps/). Admission to teacher education is required for enrollment in the following courses: ED 341/2/3, ED 351, ED 361, ED 371-376, ED 381, ED 401, PE 401, PE 402, HE 401.

1. complete ED 101 Exploring Teaching, or its equivalent with a C or better.
2. pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA). The VCLA test is a Virginia Licensure requirement designed to assess entry-level academic competency and must be taken in Virginia as identified in registration materials (http://www.va.nesinc.com). You must submit a copy of your examinee score report to the education department. You are responsible for all test fees.

1. pass the basic skills assessment in one of the following ways:

• meet the Virginia SAT/ACT Qualifying Scores for Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test.
• pass the Reading, Writing, and Mathematics sections of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test.
• pass the Mathematics section of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test with a score of 150 or higher AND pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) with a score of 470 or higher.

The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test is designed to assess entry-level academic competency and can be taken at James Madison University or other Educational Testing Services (ETS) testing sites as identified in registration materials (http://www.ets.org/praxis/).  You are responsible for all test fees.

1. submit a Teacher Education application by November 30.
2. read and acknowledge an understanding of the Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel.
3. demonstrate dispositions of personal and professional responsibility, caring about relationships in learning communities, scholarship and inquiry, and reflective practice as evidenced by academic, teacher education, and character recommendations.
4. maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. (2.7 needed for student teaching)
5. achieve a C or better in all education courses (courses with an ED/EDS prefix) to be admitted to Student Teaching.
6. complete a Teacher Education Admission Portfolio by February 1. A fee for the portfolio is required.
7. complete a teacher education interview in February.

Approved by COTE May 15, 2018

You will be notified by the education department upon admission and must maintain a satisfactory academic standing prior to admission to student teaching. If your application is denied, you will be required to conference with the Chair of Undergraduate Teacher Education and a student growth plan will be completed if applicable.

If you apply for admission late, you must meet the same requirements as other students. Late admission means that you may need to extend your program of study because admission to Teacher Education is required for enrollment in ED 341/2/3, ED 351, ED 361, ED 371-376, ED 381, ED 401, PE 401, PE 402, HE 401.

Please note that application to Teacher Education is the first step to becoming a teacher. In order to proceed, you will need to apply separately to Student Teaching.

Current cut-off scores for the Praxis Core and VCLA exams are listed in Appendix A of this handbook and on the web: http://www.emu.edu/education/test-scores/.

Entrance Requirements for admission to Student Teaching

In order to student teach, you must complete an application by November 30 of your junior year or the academic year prior to your student teaching placement. Application information and requirements are sent via e-mail and special memos to students. These applications are acted upon by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee based on consideration of the following requirements (also found at http://www.emu.edu/education/3-steps/).

1. be admitted to teacher education and remain in good standing according to the Teacher Education admissions criteria.
2. achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
3. achieve a C or better in all education and methods courses (courses with an ED/EDS prefix, ART 397, ART 398, LING 450, MUED 341, MUED 342, PE 401, PE 402, THR 370, THR 371).
4. complete an application for admission to student teaching by November 30.
5. demonstrate dispositions of personal and professional responsibility, caring about relationships in learning communities, scholarship and inquiry, and reflective practice as evidenced by academic, teacher education, and character recommendations.
6. meet with the Coordinator of Field Experience or the Chair of Undergraduate Teacher Education for a student teaching placement interview in January.
7. have a negative Tuberculosis screening.
8. take the Praxis Subject Assessment required for Virginia Licensure and/or your EMU program prior to student teaching.
   • For those seeking certification in more than one program area, one Praxis Subject Assessment is required as indicated above, and additional Praxis Subject Assessments must be taken and passed prior to program completion.
9. PreK-3, PreK-6, and Special Education candidates who are student teaching in the fall must have taken the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) exam prior to student teaching. PreK-3, PreK-6 and Special Education candidates who are student teaching in the spring may take the RVE in January during their student teaching semester and must submit proof of registration prior to student teaching.
10. achieve a score of 2 or higher on designated criteria in the lesson plan rubric from designated program courses. Students are given the opportunity within two designated courses to master the criteria at least once.*
11. achieve a score of “Developing Towards Expectations” or higher on each of seven essential criterion in the Profile of Clinical Performance practicum evaluation from designated program courses. Students are given the opportunity within two designated courses to master the criteria at least once.**
12. Complete certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators. The certification or training program shall be based on the current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. The certification or training shall include hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
13. Write and submit three copies each of an introductory letter and a resume by March 31 prior to the student teaching semester. A set will be given to each supervising teacher and one set will be placed in your student file.
14. complete the background check requirement of the school division(s) in which you will student teach by the date required (dates will vary depending on the school division).

Approved by COTE May 15, 2018

*Designated courses for the lesson plan evaluation for admission to student teaching: ED 331, 333, 351, and 371-376; EDS 331 and 332; PE 402; ART 398; MUED 342; LING 450; THR 371

**Designated courses for the practicum evaluation for admission to student teaching: ED 252, 331-333, 341-343, & 361; EDS 331-332; ART 397-398; LING 450 & 460; MUED 341-342; PE 401-402; THR 370-371. The Profile of Clinical Performance is in a pilot phase during calendar year 2017. Candidates will not be penalized in the pilot phase period if any particular data set is unavailable due to a change in admission requirements or the period in which performance data are collected.

You will be notified by the education department upon admission. As a transfer student, you are expected to be in residence one full semester in addition to the above requirements before being admitted to student teaching. Students must be admitted to teacher education by July 1, prior to the academic year they wish to student teach.  At the discretion of TEAC, adjustments to the July 1 admission date may be considered. If your application is denied, you will be required to conference with the Chair of Undergraduate Teacher Education and a student growth plan will be completed, if applicable.

Policy statements exist in the Student Teaching Handbook for requests to work, student teach away from the area, and/or participate in athletics during your student teaching semester.    

http://www.emu.edu/education/sthandbook.pdf

Current cut-off scores for the Praxis Subject Assessments and Reading for Virginia Educators exam (RVE) are listed in Appendix A of this handbook and on the web:

http://www.emu.edu/education/test-scores/.

Student Teaching requests following a canceled placement

If a student teaching placement is canceled because a candidate has been denied admission to teacher education, items 1-7, 12, 13 of the Entrance Requirements for admission to Student Teaching (page27) must be met before the education department will request student teaching placements with school divisions. These requirements must be completed by the May Teacher Education Admissions Committee meeting prior to the academic year the candidate wishes to student teach.

If a student teaching placement is canceled because a candidate has been denied admission to student teaching, ALL requirements for admission to student teaching must be met before the education department will request student teaching placements with school divisions. These requirements must be completed by the May Teacher Education Admissions Committee meeting prior to the academic year the candidate wishes to student teach.

Approved by COTE May 9, 2017

Exit Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for your academic major, you must satisfy the following exit requirements.

You must:

1. have taken the Praxis Subject Assessment for each licensure area.
2. meet the Virginia State cut-off score requirements for the Praxis Subject Assessment and the Reading for Virginia Educators exam (if required).
3. maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 through the final semester and achieve a C or better in all education and methods courses (courses with an ED/EDS prefix, ART 397, ART 398, LING 450, MUED 341, MUED 342, PE 401, PE 402, THR 370, THR 371).
4. successfully complete student teaching as determined by the university consultant in conjunction with the cooperating teacher.
5. submit a Student Teaching Portfolio in ED 411 and achieve a passing score on each assignment.
6. demonstrate proficiency in meeting Virginia Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel.
7. meet requirements for child abuse & neglect recognition & reporting curriculum guidelines of the Virginia Department of Education: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cps/mandated_reporters/cwse5691/story.html
8. complete dyslexia awareness training, provided by the Virginia Department of Education, on the indicators of dyslexia and the evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia:

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/licensure/dyslexia-module/story.html

1. complete the application for a Virginia teaching license.

Approved by COTE May 15, 2018

You will be required to take the Praxis Subject Assessment and Reading for Virginia Educators exam (if applicable) to receive initial licensure in Virginia and most other states. You should register directly through the Educational Testing Services. Registration information is available on the web at http://www.ets.org/praxis and in the education department.  When registering for Praxis tests, please select EMU as the institutional score recipient. You are responsible to submit a copy of your score report to the education department.

You will also be required to pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) for licensure in Virginia. This test is administered in Virginia with dates announced at the beginning of each school year. You should register directly through the National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES). Registration information is available on the web at http://www.va.nesinc.com/. A copy of your score report must be submitted to the education department.

You are responsible for all test fees. Current cut-off scores for each test are listed in Appendix A of this handbook and on the web:  http://www.emu.edu/education/test-scores/.

Please be aware that required tests for licensure vary from state to state. It is possible that you will need to take additional tests to qualify for licensure in the state to which you are applying.

Appeal Procedure

In the event you are denied admission to teacher education or to student teaching, you may appeal the action by writing a letter to the chair of the Teacher Education Admissions Committee (the undergraduate department chair). The letter should clearly state the reasons why you feel you should be admitted and show further evidence that the weaknesses cited by the committee are inaccurate, have been sufficiently improved upon, or that extenuating circumstances exist that merit reconsideration of the decision.

...