Bagwell College of Education and PTEU

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Kennesaw State University is one of the largest and strongest teacher preparation units in the University System of Georgia. One out of five undergraduate students at KSU is enrolled in a professional degree program that prepares teachers for the P-12, elementary, middle and secondary schools.

KSU’s conceptual framework for teacher education is the Collaborative Development of Expertise in Teaching, Learning and Leadership. The Professional Teacher Education Unit (PTEU) at Kennesaw State University is committed to developing expertise among candidates in initial and advanced programs as teachers and leaders who possess the capability, intent and expertise to facilitate high levels of learning in all of their students through effective, research-based practices in classroom instruction, and who enhance the structures that support all learning. To that end, the PTEU fosters the development of candidates as they progress through stages of growth from novice to proficient to expert and leader. Within the PTEU conceptual framework, expertise is viewed as a process of continued development, not an end-state. To become effective, teachers and educational leaders must embrace the notion that teaching and learning are entwined and that only through the implementation of validated practices can all P-12 students construct meaning and reach high levels of learning. In that way, candidates are facilitators of the teaching and learning process. Finally, the PTEU recognizes, values and demonstrates collaborative practices across the college and university and extends collaboration to the community-at-large. Through this collaboration with university professionals, the public and private schools, parents and other professional partners, the PTEU meets the ultimate goal of assisting Georgia schools in bringing all students to high levels of learning.

Teacher education programs at KSU have high expectations for content knowledge in the teaching field, effective pedagogical skills, multiple field experiences, multicultural perspectives, use of educational technology, performance-based assessments, and attention to student learning outcomes.

Accreditations

The university’s teacher preparation programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by Georgia’s Professional Standards Commission (PSC). Successful completion of one of KSU’s approved undergraduate programs in teacher education leads to initial teacher certification in Georgia (P-5 for elementary; 4-8 for middle; 6-12 for secondary; and P-12 for all grades).

Graduates of KSU’s teacher education programs typically perform well on examinations for professional certification. Candidates for teacher certification in Georgia must pass the Gace Basic and Gace Content tests. In Georgia, the Professional Standards Commission provides the Gace II pass rates for all teacher preparation units in the state to the U.S. Secretary of Education as mandated by Title II of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. The pass rate, which is published as part of the Title II Teacher Report Card, was 96% for all KSU program completers for the 2007-2008 academic year.

The PTEU

Teacher education at KSU is a highly collaborative and all-campus responsibility. The Professional Teacher Education Unit (PTEU) is the umbrella organization under which approximately 100 teaching faculty and academic administrators representing over twelve different instructional departments and five colleges come together to collaborate on the design, delivery, approval and accreditation of all teacher preparation programs. The Dean of the Leland & Clarice C. Bagwell College of Education leads the PTEU and provides university-wide coordination for teacher education, working in partnership with the other deans of the university.

Within the PTEU, the following functions are centralized in the Bagwell College of Education in support of all teacher education programs at KSU:

• Formal Admission to Teacher Education—Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center
• General Program Advisement—Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center and specific program areas
• Admission to Student Teaching—Center for Educational Placement and Partnerships (CEPP)
• Recommendations for Teacher Certification— Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center
• Final Appeals of Teacher Education Admission & Retention Decisions—Teacher Education Appeals Board and Associate Dean of the Bagwell College of Education
• Teacher Induction and Professional Development Activities—Center for Education Placements and Partnership (CEPP) Teaching Resources—Teacher Resource and Activity Center (TRAC)
• Educational Technology Resources—Learning Technology Center in TRAC and the Educational Technology Center
• Coordination of Field Experiences—Center for Education Placements and Partnerships
• Coordination for Program Accreditation—Associate Dean for Assessment and Accreditation of the Bagwell College of Education
• Coordination of the PTEU and Program Coordinators—Dean of the Bagwell College of Education
• Oversight of the Teacher Education Council (TEC), College Level Policy and Curriculum Committee for all Teacher Education Programs—Dean of the Bagwell College of Education

Within the PTEU, most of the responsibilities for designing and implementing individual degree programs in teacher education are decentralized and assigned to different colleges and instructional departments. Each program has a KSU faculty member who serves as the program coordinator in the department responsible for that program. The collaborating colleges and departments responsible for KSU’s eleven bachelor’s degree programs and one current endorsement in teacher education are as follows:

• Bagwell College of Education
  P-5 Elementary and Early Childhood Education (Department of Elementary & Early Childhood Education)
  4-8 Middle Grades Education (Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education)
• College of Health & Human Services
  P-12 Health & Physical Education (Department of Health, Physical Education & Sport Science)
• College of Humanities & Social Sciences
  6-12 English Education (Department of English)
  6-12 History Education (Department of History & Philosophy)
  P-12 Teacher Certification in Foreign Language Education Concentration (Department of Foreign Language)

• College of Science and Mathematics
  6-12 Biology Education (Department of Biology & Physics)
  6-12 Mathematics Education (Department of Mathematics and Physics)
  6-12 Chemistry Education Track (Department of Chemistry Biochemistry)                                                                                                                                                                                                           Computer Science Endorsement (Department of Computer Science and Information Systems)*

• College of the Arts P-12 Art Education (Department of Visual Arts)

  P-12 Music Education (Department of Music)

* The computer science endorsement is a concurrent endorsement that leads to 6-12 certification)

At KSU, content specialists in the arts and sciences work collaboratively with pedagogy specialists in those same disciplines and often in the same departments to prepare teachers. Bachelor’s degree programs in teacher education require the equivalent of a major in the content studies of the teaching field and the equivalent of a second major in pedagogical studies with an emphasis on teaching that is discipline-specific and age-appropriate.

Bagwell College of Education

Even though the responsibility for administering professional teacher preparation programs is distributed broadly across many colleges and departments at KSU, the overall coordination and primary leadership for teacher education resides with the Leland & Clarice C. Bagwell College of Education and the Dean of Education. The Bagwell College is organized into four instructional departments that support particular degree programs in teacher education and a number of academic support units that provide services to all teacher education programs in the PTEU.

William D. Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center provides guidance to Elementary and Early Childhood, Middle Grades, and Secondary History Education candidates in the PTEU as they complete requirements for full admission to the Teacher Education program, complete program requirements in their major, prepare for participation in major field experiences, and seek teacher certification.

The Teacher Resource and Activity Center (TRAC) serves  teacher candidates and in-service candidates and teachers with a curriculum and textbook library and a media resource center for the design and development of instructional materials.

The Educational Technology Center at Kennesaw State University serves the Metropolitan Atlanta and North Georgia region with workshops for pre-service and in-service educators on the principles of integrating technology into the curriculum to enhance student learning.

Under the leadership of the Associate Dean for Assessment and Accreditation, the Research and Assessment in Teacher Education unit coordinates the PTEU’s data collection, institutional research, and assessment functions for reporting and program improvement purposes.

The Center for Educational Placements and Partnerships develops and promotes partnerships and collaborative efforts with the university, the community, and schools to advance public P-12 education. The director and center personnel working with teacher education faculty and appropriate school personnel, plan and implement the selection of school sites and classrooms appropriate to the needs of Kennesaw State University candidates and the goals of the Professional Teacher Education Unit. The Center supports teacher development from pre-service education to teacher induction through mentoring programs, staff development, and other initiatives.

Admission to Teacher Education

Kennesaw State University is committed through its admission and monitoring processes to recruit and prepare diverse, highly qualified and capable prospective teachers. In order to enroll in a professional level education course at the upper level (3000-4000), the candidate must be formally admitted to teacher education at Kennesaw State University.

Admission to teacher education is separate from admission to Kennesaw State University. Candidates typically apply for admission to teacher education as sophomores after having completed most of their general education requirements. Applications for admission to teacher education are available in the William D. Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center.

A criminal history background check will be performed prior to admission to teacher education. In addition, if determined by the background check that a student is a multi-state offender, the student will be required to pay a fee and be fingerprinted. Results of either the criminal history background check and/or fingerprinting may preclude admission to teacher education.

In order to meet the minimum requirements for admission to teacher education programs, candidates must also have:

1. Completed at least 45 semester hours of accredited college coursework.
2. Achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all attempted hours in the system core curriculum and lower division courses as required for teacher preparation programs.
3. Achieved an adjusted or cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all completed coursework at Kennesaw State University.
4. Completed English 1101 and English 1102 with grades of “C” or higher.
5. Passed or exempted the Regents’ Examination.
6. Passed or exempted the state of Georgia required GACE Basic Skills Assessment, regardless of matriculation date.
7. Completed EDUC 2110* with grade of “C” or higher. In addition to the preceding, the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education requires that all additional coursework completed in Lower Division Major and Teaching Field at the time of application for admission must consist of a grade of “C” or higher.
8. Received a positive faculty recommendation from EDUC 2110.
9. Received a positive evaluation in the EDUC 2110 field experience.
10. Exhibited responsible, professional behavior in all classes, the field experience, and interactions with peers and faculty.
11. Exhibited potential for success in the program.
12. Been approved for admission by the Admission and Academic Standing Committee of the applicant’s proposed degree program.
13. Note: Some degree programs in teacher education have additional admissions requirements. Consult those departments and program coordinators.

* Or approved Teacher Cadet or Teacher Apprenticeship Program

To be considered for admission, applications and all supporting documents must be submitted to the William D. Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center on or before the following deadlines:

* See note below on teacher education admission fee

Candidates will be informed of their admission status by email to their Kennesaw State University Student email account.

Candidates who have been denied admission must remove deficiencies within three semesters of the initial application for admission in order to be eligible for reconsideration for entry into a teacher education program.

Teacher Education Admission Fee

Any student submitting an application for admission to Teacher Education after February 15, 2006 must pay a $20.00 application fee. This fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Retention in Teaching Education

Once admitted to teacher education, a candidate will not be eligible to continue in teacher education if:

1. Responsible, professional behavior is not exhibited in all classes, field experiences and interactions with peers and faculty, as judged by the program faculty and/or collaborating teachers and school personnel.
2. The candidate is found guilty of a major violation of the student code of conduct or civil law.
3. Two or more “D” or “F” grades are earned in required lower and upper division courses in the candidate’s teacher education program. A review may be triggered if the candidate’s adjusted or cumulative GPA falls below 2.75 at KSU.
4. The individual fails to observe or meet the required course and program prerequisites, including field-based teaching methods courses and student teaching.
5. Teaching skills and effectiveness are judged by two or more faculty instructors and/or collaborating teachers to be unsatisfactory.
6. Student teaching is not completed satisfactorily.

One or more of these deficiencies will trigger a review by the Admissions and Academic Standing Committee of the appropriate program area, which will determine whether the candidate will be permitted to continue in the teacher education program under an individualized remediation plan. Decisions to remove a candidate from the teacher education program will be recommended by that committee and approved by the program coordinator, department chair, and the associate dean for undergraduate studies of the Bagwell College of Education.

A student teacher may be removed from a field experience when any of the following occurs:

1. The appropriate school authority states that the teacher preparation candidate’s presence in the classroom is not in the best interest of the public school’s students and/or requests that the teacher preparation candidate be removed;
2. The joint decision of the appropriate teacher education program coordinator and department chair in consultation with the director of the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships (CEPP), student teacher coordinator, supervising master teacher, and/or university supervisor states that the circumstances are such as to prevent either the development and/or maintenance of a satisfactory learning environment;
3. Unprofessional/unethical behavior has been exhibited by the teacher education candidate;
4. A decision has been reached that the teacher education candidate cannot receive a satisfactory grade.

Major Field Experiences

The purpose of educational field experiences is to provide each teacher education candidate with multiple opportunities to engage in the practical aspects of teaching in real classroom settings. The teacher education faculty, the director of the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships and appropriate school personnel collaborate to plan and implement the selection of school sites, classrooms and teaching/learning major field experiences and environments appropriate to the needs of the candidates and the goals of the Professional Teacher Education Unit. Emphasis is given to balancing each candidate’s experiences between urban, suburban and rural environments, as well as among the multicultural and diverse populations of learners served within the Kennesaw State University service area. Each candidate is expected to be engaged in the full range of the respective program’s teacher certification requirements as prescribed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

The introductory course to the major includes a field component, as do several other courses in the professional education sequence. Two major field experiences form the capstone of all undergraduate teacher education programs: 1) the Teaching of Specific Subjects (TOSS) experience; and 2) the Student Teaching experience.

Teaching of Specific Subjects (TOSS) and Instructional Design and Applications (IDA)

While candidate progress will be monitored throughout the program, a formal progress check will occur when candidates submit the TOSS application for the appropriate program area. This form must be signed by the student’s advisor and submitted to the program’s coordinator. A criminal history background check will be performed prior to Admission to the Teaching of Specific Subjects (TOSS) or equivalent and may preclude continuation in the program. Teacher candidates must pay a fee for this service. Information regarding the criminal history check can be obtained from the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships. Minimum requirements for continuation in the program are:

1. Completion of teaching field and professional sequence coursework with a 2.75 minimum adjusted or cumulative GPA.
2. Grades of “C” or better in all required courses in the candidate’s teacher education program.
3. Positive evaluations in all field experiences.
4. Responsible behavior in all classes, field experiences, and interactions with peers and faculty.
5. Approval by the Admissions and Academic Standing Committee of the appropriate program area.

Individual programs/departments may have additional criteria for continuation in the program.

The form must be submitted to the appropriate program coordinator on or before the following specified deadline dates.

Admission to Student Teaching

Student teaching normally is the last requirement completed in teacher education programs. Student teaching requires a full-time academic and professional commitment; therefore, no other courses should be taken during the semester of student teaching. Since student teaching is based in the field, the typical school-day hours for teachers at the placement site will be observed by the teacher candidate. The teacher candidate is expected to follow the direction of the collaborating teacher, the school principal, the KSU university supervisor, and the KSU director of the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships.

A criminal history background check will be performed prior to admission to Teaching of Specific Subjects (TOSS) or equivalent. In addition, if determined by the background check that a student is a multi-state offender, the student will be required to pay a fee and be fingerprinted. Results of either the criminal history background check and/or fingerprinting may preclude continuation in the program.

Formal application to student teach must be completed and submitted to the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships. Candidates become eligible to student teach by meeting the following requirements:

1. Grades of “C” or higher in all Lower Division Major Requirements (Area F) teaching field and professional education coursework.
2. A 2.75 adjusted or cumulative GPA in all coursework at Kennesaw State University.
3. Positive evaluations in field experiences.
4. Responsible professional behavior in all classes, field experiences, and interactions with peers and faculty.
5. Positive recommendation from the instructor(s) of Teaching of Specific Subject (TOSS) and Instructional Design and Application (IDA) course(s).
6. Approval by the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships and the Admissions and Academic Standing Committee of the appropriate program area.
   

Individual programs/departments may have additional criteria for admission to student teaching.

Applications for student teaching must be submitted to the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships on or before the deadline dates specified below

Applications are due a semester in advance. For example, candidates wishing to student teach Spring 2010 must submit completed applications by August 30, 2009. Candidates wishing to student teach Fall 2010 must submit completed applications by January 30, 2010.

Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Completion of Student Teaching

Criteria for the successful completion of student teaching are detailed in the Outcomes and Proficiencies outlined in the PTEU Candidate Performance Instrument (CPI) and embodied in the PTEU Conceptual Framework (CF). Candidates demonstrate their achievement of the Outcomes and Proficiencies through successful completion of the following:

• Entire semester of student teaching including eight to ten continuous weeks of full-time teaching (during one semester), unless otherwise stated by the program area
• Candidate Performance Instrument (CPI)
• Portfolio Narrative
• Impact on Student Learning Analysis Assignment
• Program area criteria and requirements
• End-of-semester student teaching surveys

The CF Outcomes and Proficiencies are available on the Center for Education Placements and Partnerships Website. Refer to the Field Experiences Handbook to review reasons for removal from the student teaching experience.

Grading Policies for Student Teaching

The final grades and their definitions for student teaching are as follows:

I – indicates an incomplete grade for the Student Teaching experience and will be awarded only when the candidate is progressing successfully in the Student Teaching experience, but for non-academic reasons beyond his/her control is unable to meet the full requirements of the student teaching semester experience. An “Incomplete Grade Documentation” form is required that stipulates the conditions for successful completion of student teaching and signed by the university supervisor, collaborating teacher, department chair/program coordinator, and candidate.

If a candidate receives a grade of “I”, the candidate must satisfactorily complete the requirements for Student Teaching as recommended by the program area, in compliance with the time frame stated under “Grading Policies” in the current KSU Catalog. The candidate will be assigned the grade of “U” if the grade of “I” is not removed within the time frame stated under “Grading Policies” in the current KSU Catalog. If the candidate receives a grade of “U” and wishes to enroll for student teaching in a subsequent semester, the candidate must reapply for student teaching. If accepted to the program, the candidate must complete the entire student teaching semester experience.

W – is awarded when a candidate withdraws without penalty from student teaching with the approval of the registrar before the withdrawal date listed in the Semester Schedule of Classes. Withdrawals without penalty may be permitted after the official withdrawal period in hardship cases only with the approval of the department chair and the registrar. A remediation plan stipulating the conditions for successful completion of student teaching and signed by the university supervisor, collaborating teacher, department chair/program coordinator, and candidate is required. If a candidate receives a grade of “W” and wishes to enroll in student teaching in a subsequent semester, the candidate must reapply for student teaching once the remediation plan is successfully completed and documented by the program area using the “Student Teacher Remediation Follow-up Report.” If accepted to the program, the candidate must complete the entire student teaching semester experience.

WF – indicates that the student was permitted to withdraw from a course with the approval of the registrar after the withdrawal date listed in the Semester Schedule of Classes. If a candidate earns a grade of “WF”, the conditions indicated under “U” below will apply.

S – indicates satisfactory completion of the student teaching experience.

U – indicates unsatisfactory completion of the student teaching experience. If a candidate earns a grade of “U”, a remediation plan stipulating the conditions for successful completion of student teaching and signed by the university supervisor, collaborating teacher, department chair/program coordinator, and candidate is required. If a candidate receives a grade of “U” and wishes to enroll in student teaching in a subsequent semester, the candidate must reapply for student teaching once the remediation plan is successfully completed and documented by the program area using the “Student Teacher Remediation Follow-up Report.” If accepted to the program, the candidate must complete the entire student teaching semester experience.

Appeals of Admission & Retention Decisions

A formal appeal of a decision to deny admission or retention in student teaching or the teacher education program may be made to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. Instructions and forms for such appeals are available in the Office of the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education. An appeal must be based on exceptional and extenuating circumstances and/or other pertinent information not previously available or considered. A formal appeal must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education within 30 days of being notified of admission or retention status.

In all cases, the candidate may initiate an appeal after seeking resolution with the appropriate degree program’s Admissions and Academic Standing Committee or department chair or both.

The Dean will transmit the appeal to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. The decision of the Teacher Education Appeals Board may be appealed in writing within 30 days to the dean of the Bagwell College of Education. The decision of the dean of the Bagwell College of Education is final.

Teacher Certification

Teacher certification is granted by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. KSU’s degree programs in teacher education have been approved by the Professional Standards Commission, but their completion satisfies only one of the requirements for teacher certification in Georgia. Candidates completing an approved program will prepare the necessary paperwork for certification prior to Student Teaching. Candidates desiring certification in another state should contact the Department of Education in that state for specific requirements.

For Kennesaw State University to recommend a candidate for certification in the state of Georgia, candidates must have received a degree in their field of education with a GPA of at least 2.75 from Kennesaw State University, pass the GACE Basic examination or show proof of exemption (see below), pass the GACE Content test for that field, and submit a copy of the GACE Content score report for all passed examinations to the Certification Officer. The Certification Officer is responsible for verifying that all information is correct before any paperwork can be submitted to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

GACE Basic is a comprehensive test covering reading, writing, and mathematics. Regardless of matriculation date, GACE Basic is a requirement for entrance into the Teacher Education Program at Kennesaw State University. Candidates should plan to take the test prior to applying to the Teacher Education Program. Students with the following minimum scores on Collegiate SAT, ACT, or GRE examinations may exempt GACE I test by submitting proof of scores to the Certification Officer located in the William D. Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center:

Candidates who believe they qualify for this exemption should see the Certification Officer in the William D. Impey Teacher Education Advisement Center to establish and record the exemption. The center can also provide further information concerning GACE Basic and GACE Content at (770) 423-6105.

Programs of Study

The following degree programs are offered through the collaborating colleges and departments of the PTEU:

Elementary and Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification Program

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education

Middle Grades Teacher Certification Program

• Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education

Secondary Teacher Certification Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Biology Education
• Bachelor of Science in English Education
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Chemistry Education Track)
• Bachelor of Science in History Education

P-12 Teacher Education Certification Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Art Education
• Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education
• Bachelor of Music in Music Education
• Bachelor of Art in Modern Language and Culture (Teacher Certification in Foreign Language Education Concentration)

Endorsements

The following concurrent endorsement is offered through the collaborating colleges and departments of the PTEU

• Computer Science Endorsement (6-12)

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