Level One: Preparing for Teacher Candidacy
This is the first level for teacher education candidates. Benchmarks for Level One are listed below.
Initial prerequisites
These must be completed during EDU 245 Preparing for Level Two: Teacher Candidacy. This is typically taken during sophomore year at WSC. Transfer students should take this their first semester at WSC.
- Anthology Portfolio: All education majors must purchase Anthology Portfolio, which is an electronic portfolio used for submitting homework and assessing progress. Anthology Portfolio can also be used for building a personal portfolio for future employment. Subscriptions are purchased through the bookstore located in the Student Center. If you are a Western Iowa Tech transfer student, contact Brook Jech ([email protected] or 402-375-7373) for the link to gain access to the Benchmarks Portfolio.
- State Authorization Reciprocity Act (SARA): Students are required to review the SARA information in Anthology Portfolio. After viewing, students must digitally sign a signature sheet (located in Anthology Portfolio) indicating they understand the requirements/information.
- Complete the application to educator preparation located in Anthology Portfolio. It should be completed/submitted electronically. A digital copy will be sent by the Anthology system to the Field Experience Office.
- Background check: All education majors must complete an initial background screening prior to admission into the educator preparation program or the first field experience. Information (including the name of the company that completes the screening and fee paid by the student) is provided in Anthology Portfolio.
- Nebraska TEACH account: Visit https://teach.education.ne.gov/#/ and register for a free Nebraska TEACH Account. This is “The Educator Application and Certification Hub” (TEACH) where you will apply for certification through the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). It is important to do this prior to having any Praxis scores sent to allow for a smooth application process. Be sure to register using a personal email that you will continue to use post-graduation.
Required General Studies courses
You must earn a “C” or higher in the following two classes.
- CNA 100 Principles of Human Communication
- ENG 102 Composition Skills
Required Professional Education courses
You must earn a “C” or higher in all EDU or SPD prefix classes.
- EDU 150 Introduction to Professional Education
- EDU 245 Preparing for Level 2: Teacher Candidacy
- EDU 250 Human Development and Cognition (includes field experience component)
- EDU 275 PK-12 Instructional Design (includes field experience component)
Note: Some of the above courses may be accepted as transfer credit from other institutions – see your advisor for assistance.
Training in human relations
- Completion of EDU 275 PK-12 Instructional Design or completion of EDU 457 Human Relations in a Pluralistic Society (if transferring in an equivalent EDU 275 course from another institution)
Performance benchmarks
- Must have a 2.5 (or higher) cumulative GPA
- Evidence of professionalism and potential for teaching verified by successful progress on the Educator Growth Portfolio (EGP)
Recommendation and approval
- Must receive a recommendation rating to advance. Each student’s EGP will be reviewed by the Candidate Review Committee (CRC) for evidence of satisfactory progress in knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
- Must receive approval from the Professional Progress Committee (PPC) to advance to candidate status.
Recommendation process from Level One to Level Two:
For each student enrolled in EDU 275 (considered the capstone class at Level One), the CRC in coordination with the Education and Behavioral Sciences Office will review evidence and artifacts related to the required benchmarks for Level One. Based on that evidence, one of the following numerical ratings will be assigned to the potential candidate and will be forwarded to the Professional Progress Committee (PPC) for consideration:
- Rating is #1: Students who are rated as #1 by the CRC and have met all Level 1 Benchmarks as verified by the EBS Office will automatically advance to Level 2.
- Rating is #2: Students who are rated as #2 by the CRC are reviewed by the PPC. The decision regarding advancement to Level 2 is based on the concerns from the CRC and/or faculty. Some students may be allowed to advance conditionally for one semester. The PPC will list the concerns for conditional approval.* When the student has successfully addressed the concerns for conditional approval, they will be advanced to Level 2.
- Rating is #3: Students who are rated as #3 by the CRC do not exhibit qualities necessary to remain in educator preparation based on existing evidence which will be provided to the PPC. The PPC reviews the #3 ratings from the CRC to determine if a recommendation for removal from the program should be made to the dean.
*During this semester of conditional approval, the student may be on an improvement plan as recommended by the PPC. In this case, the student will be required to meet with a PPC improvement plan team a minimum of two times to review improvement. At the conclusion of the semester, progress on the improvement plan will be reviewed, and a report and recommendation will be made to the PPC regarding readiness to remain in educator preparation. Based on the review, some students will be required to complete a second conditional semester at Level Two; others will continue at Level Two without conditions due to satisfactory progress; and still others will be recommended for removal from educator preparation. Students will not be allowed more than two conditional semesters. Students who are not admitted to educator preparation will be referred to explore other career options.
Students who meet all Level One benchmarks and receive PPC approval for candidacy will be allowed to take Level 300 or 400 EDU and SPD classes and/or MUS 411 and 412.
