First Year Fall Semester

____       Enroll in Exploring Teaching.

____       Make plans to take the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA).

____       Complete the Virginia Communication Literacy Assessment (VCLA) with a minimum passing score of 470 and submit examinee score report to the education program office.

              *There are no exemptions as the VCLA is a Virginia state licensure requirement.

____       Maintain a 2.5 GPA and have a C or better in all education and methods courses (courses with an ED prefix, VACA 397/398, MUED 341/342, PE 401/402) and a 2.7 GPA to be admitted to student teaching.

____       Make arrangements for access to a vehicle to transport yourself to and from schools for each semester in which you have a field experience. You are responsible to arrange for your own transportation to all field experiences after ED 101.

First Year Spring Semester

____       Declare a major and licensure area in education.

____       Complete a 4-year plan with your advisor.

____       Make arrangements for access to a vehicle to transport yourself to and from schools for each semester in which you have a field experience. You are responsible to arrange for your own transportation to all field experiences after ED 101.

Sophomore Fall Semester

____       Apply for admission to teacher education by November 30 which includes the following requirements:

• Maintain a 2.5 GPA and have a C or better in all education and methods courses (courses with an ED prefix, VACA 397/398; MUED 341/342, PE 401/402) and a 2.7 GPA to be admitted to student teaching.
• Submit a completed teacher education application.
• Demonstrate dispositions of responsibility, relationships, scholarship and inquiry, and reflective action as evidenced by academic, character, and teacher education recommendations.

Sophomore Spring Semester

____       Complete a teacher education interview – in February.

____       Admission to teacher education is required before registering for ED 341/2/3 Literacy Block or ED 351 General & Special Methods.

Junior Fall Semester

____       Apply for admission to student teaching by November 30 if planning to student teach the following academic year which includes the following requirements:

• Maintain at least a 2.7 GPA and have a C or better in all education and methods courses (courses with an ED prefix, VACA 397/398; MUED 341/342, PE 401/402).
• Submit a completed student teaching application.
• Meet all the criteria as outlined for admission to teacher education.
• Demonstrate dispositions of responsibility, relationships, scholarship and inquiry, and reflective action as evidenced by academic, character, and teacher education recommendations.
• 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.

(Designated courses: ED 331, 333, 351, and 385; EDS 331 and 332; PE 402; VACA 398; MUED 342)

• 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.

 (Designated courses: ED 252, 331-333, 341-343, & 361; VACA 397-398; LING 460; MUED 341-342; PE 401-402)

____       Transfer students are expected to be in residence one full semester in addition to the above requirements before being admitted to student teaching.

  Junior Spring Semester

____       Meet individually with the Coordinator of Field Placements to discuss student teaching placements.

____       Complete the following requirements for admission to student teaching:

• Write and submit an introductory letter and a resume by March 31. These will be given to each supervising teacher and placed in your permanent file.
• Complete certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) including hands-on practice, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). 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.
• Submit a negative Tuberculosis screening.

____       Make arrangements for access to a vehicle to transport yourself to and from schools for your student teaching semester.

 Senior Year

____       Participate in Opening School Experience. Spring student teachers participate the August prior to student teaching.

____       Take the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) prior to the student teaching semester. Health & Physical Education candidates may take their Praxis Subject Assessment in January of their student teaching semester.

____       Have enough credit hours to graduate (120 semester hours) and not exceed 18 hours (6-12 and PreK-12) or 24 hours (PreK-3 and PreK-6) of professional education hours.

Program Exit Requirements

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

You must:

1. have passed the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) for each licensure area.
2. meet the Virginia State cut-off score requirements for the Praxis Subject Assessment and the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary 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 prefix, VACA 397, VACA 398, MUED 341, MUED 342, PE 401, PE 402).
4. successfully complete student teaching as determined by the university consultant in conjunction with the cooperating teacher.
5. successfully complete ED 411 Reflective Teaching Seminar with a passing grade.
6. 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.
7. complete the 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.
8. complete the behavior intervention and support training, provided by the Virginia Department of Education, on the use of restraint and seclusion: https://www.odu.edu/eps/programs/ciees/initiatives/restraint-and-seclusion.html.
9.  complete instruction or training in cultural competency as per guidelines from the Virginia Board of Education.
10.  complete the application for a Virginia teaching license.

You will be required to take the Praxis Subject Assessment and Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary 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 teacher education program office.  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 teacher education office.

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/. You are responsible to submit a copy of your score report to the teacher education office.

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.

LICENSURE APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED AFTER THE ABOVE EXIT REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET AND A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM.