Standards Leading to Teacher Certification
Introduction
The Three
Cycles of Candidacy
Cycle I:
Admission Candidacy
Cycle II:
Continuing Candidacy
Cycle III: Exit
Candidacy
Application to Teacher Education Fee
Certificate Fee
Certificate
Fee Conflict
Resolution and Appeal Procedure
Policy Regarding Teacher Certification and/or Endorsement
for Postbaccalaureate Students
Validity of Provisional Certificate
Requirements for Professional Education Certification
Procedures for Professional Education Certification
Professional Education Certificate Renewal
Introduction
Students seeking to enter the Teacher Education
program at Central Michigan University are screened using
multiple criteria related to teacher excellence and the
CLEAR model for teacher education. The selection criteria
assess characteristics appropriate for students pursuing a
professional teaching practice that is Content–or
knowledge–driven, LEArner-centered and Reflective/
Relevant to the multiple roles and contexts of the
professional educator. Once a student is admitted, cognitive
and affective skills are both developed and monitored
throughout the teacher education experience, which stresses
faculty mentoring of all prospective teachers.
Excellent
teachers demonstrate an interest in students, an ability to
relate to and communicate with diverse students in varied
ways, as well as the ability to motivate and facilitate
learning. Teacher candidates at CMU must be learner-centered
and able to communicate both in writing and in face-to-face
interactions with spontaneity and clarity. The student’s
aptitude for, attitudes toward, and interests in teaching,
as well as his or her interpersonal skills such as empathy,
rapport, and listening are assessed through a structured
interview process.
Academic
knowledge is reflected by an overall grade point average
that includes a minimum 2.7 grade point average in each
teaching major and minor. Additionally, students are
required to attain a C+ (2.3) or better in the professional
and methods courses and a B in the introductory course.
Students
may apply for admission into the Teacher Education program
when they have completed at least 60 credit hours of
post-secondary course work or immediately upon transferring
to CMU.
Undergraduates
and Graduates of regionally accredited institutions must
provide transcripts from all educational institutions
attended to the EHS Center for Student Services at the time of
application.
The
three-cycle process leading to teacher certification is
summarized below. Students must follow the requirements in
the Teacher Education Student Handbook and the requirements
of the Michigan Board of Education in effect at the time
they complete the application process.
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The
Three Cycles of Candidacy
Cycle
I: Admission Candidacy
Each student who expects to earn either an Elementary
Provisional Certificate or a Secondary Provisional
Certificate must file an application for entry into teacher
education. Application forms and related information are
found in the Teacher Education Student Handbook available at
the Bovee University Center bookstore.
Cycle
I is a two-part process, acceptance for candidacy status and
admission to the teacher education program. Upon completion
of all requirements for Cycle I, the student will be placed
on a list that is ranked in order by composite scores.
Admission to teacher education will occur twice a year, once
in September and once in February, and will be based upon
the student's composite score. When enrollment has to be
limited in teacher education, rank order scores will be used
to determine admission to the program. Therefore, students
who have met all requirements for admission may not be
admitted if their composite scores are not sufficiently high
to be above the cutoff score.
Students
must be admitted to the teacher education program before
being eligible to enroll in professional education courses
that have "admission to teacher education" as a
prerequisite. Admission to the program is valid for five
years from the date of admission to teacher education.
Changes mandated by the Michigan Department of Education may
become effective at any time in a student's education
program.
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Cycle
II: Continuing Candidacy
This point in the teacher education program has
been established as a method to verify candidates' ongoing
growth and development in the teacher education program. By
fulfilling all competencies listed in the EHS Teacher
Education Student Handbook and Student Teaching Handbook,
candidates are eligible to continue in the program and move
to their student teaching experiences. Cycle II includes,
but is not limited to items such as departmental approval of
all majors and minors, completion of all professional
education courses, registration with CMU Career Services,
successful completion of an interview with EDU 458 faculty,
and completion of a specified mid-tier experience. For
specific requirements, consult the EHS Teacher Education
Student Handbook and the EHS Student Teaching Handbook.
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Cycle
III: Exit Candidacy
This point in the teacher education program is
intended as a verification of eligibility related to
graduation and certification. The Cycle III interview
normally takes place during the student teaching semester.
For specific requirements and details about Cycle III,
consult the EHS Teacher Education Student Handbook.
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Application
to Teacher Education Fee
Education students are required to pay a one-time,
non-refundable Application to Teacher Education Fee. The
$50.00 fee is used to help cover the cost of application and
certification processing. This fee must be paid at the
EHS Student Services Court in the lower level of the Bovee
University Center. A copy of the receipt must be submitted
by the student to the Center for Student Services prior to
the date when your application materials are due. For more
information about the Application to Teacher Education Fee,
please contact the EHS Center for Student Services at 774-3309.
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Certificate
Fee
Public Act 339 of 1988 requires candidates for a
teaching certificate or school psychologist certificate to
sign a certification agreement and to pay a fee within 30
days when billed by the Michigan Department of Education.
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Conflict
Resolution and Appeal Procedure
-
A
student who has a complaint regarding teacher
certification decisions should make known his or her
complaint as soon as possible, but in no case later than
sixty days after the beginning of the next regular
semester. Any exception to the time limitation shall be
for unusual and most compelling reasons. At each step of
the process, the student will be given the opportunity
to present relevant information, and the reasons for the
decision will be explained to the student.
-
A
student who feels that arbitrary and/or capricious
decisions have been made in evaluating admission, or
continuing requirements for the teacher education
program, or in the recommendation for certification,
should seek counsel and advice from his or her
professional advisor. The advisor will attempt to
resolve the conflict.
-
If
the student is still not satisfied, he or she may
request in writing a consultation with the Director of
Professional Education. In the absence of the Director
of Professional Education, the student’s request in
writing should be sent to the Dean of the College of
Education and Human Services. In such cases, the dean
shall act in place of the director.
-
If
the student is not satisfied with the decision of the
Director of Professional Education, the student may
submit an appeal in writing to the Professional
Education Selection, Admission and Retention Committee.
The Professional Education Selection, Admission and
Retention Committee has the authority to overrule
decisions made by the Director of Professional Education
regarding admission or continuing requirements for the
teacher education program or in the recommendation for
certification. Appeal decisions made by the Professional
Education Selection, Admission and Retention Committee
are final.
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Policy
Regarding Teacher Certification and/or Endorsement for
Postbaccalaureate Students
A postbaccalaureate student is defined as a student
with a non-teaching bachelor’s degree from a four-year
regionally accredited institution who is seeking teacher
certification, a student with a teaching degree who is
seeking teacher certification and/or endorsement in an
additional area, or a student with a teaching degree who is
seeking provisional or continuing certification and/or
endorsement in an additional area.
-
Postbaccalaureate
students must follow the "Standards Leading to
Teacher Certification" as published in the Bulletin
and meet Michigan Department of Education requirements
listed in the Teacher Education Student Handbook.
-
Postbaccalaureate
students must have majors and/or minors signed by a
departmental advisor in the department offering the
major or minor. Course substitutions may be approved
only by the departmental advisor.
-
Postbaccalaureate
students must complete all Professional Education
courses and other degree/certification requirements for
either elementary or secondary students as published in
the Bulletin.
-
The
EHS Center for Student Services will submit a list of the
names of all students applying for student teaching the
following semester to each student’s major and minor
department for approval or denial.
-
The
EHS Center for Student Services will audit the signed major
and minor of all students to certify that they have met
all the requirements before recommending them for
certification.
-
Certification
will be recommended for those teaching areas in which
CMU presently offers a major or
minor.
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Validity
of Provisional Certificate
A current Elementary Provisional Certificate is
valid for teaching all subjects in grades kindergarten
through five, and major and minor fields in grades six
through eight (upon completion of the required subject area
tests) as specified on the certificate and kindergarten
through eight in a self-contained classroom. It is valid for
six years and may be renewed for three years, provided the
applicant presents ten semester hours of credit in a planned
program as approved by the university when earned after the
issuance of the initial certificate. A second three-year
renewal may be granted provided the applicant presents 18
semester hours of credit in a planned program as approved by
the university when earned after the issuance of the initial
certificate.
A
current Secondary Provisional Certificate is valid in
subject matter fields in grades seven through twelve in
which the applicant has completed a major(s) or minor(s) as
specified on the certificate. It is valid for six years and
may be renewed for three years provided that the applicant
presents ten semester hours of credit in a planned program
as approved by the university when earned after the issuance
of the initial certificate. A second three-year renewal may
be granted provided the applicant presents 18 semester hours
of credit in a planned program as approved by the university
when earned after the issuance of the initial certificate.
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Requirements
for Professional Education Certification
Professional Education Certificate: The Elementary
or Secondary Professional Education Certificate may be
issued to a candidate who has met the following
requirements:
-
Has
taught successfully for three years, according to the
validity of his or her provisional certificate.
-
Has
presented evidence that he or she has completed 18
semester hours in a planned course of study beyond the
issuance date of the initial certificate. This advanced
course of study must be applicable to the applicant’s
professional development and signed with an advisor. A
copy of this program must be on file in the EHS Center for
Student Services.
-
Elementary
applicants for the Professional Education Certificate
must have completed 6 semester hours in the methods of
teaching reading, and secondary applicants must have
completed 3 semester hours in the methods of teaching
reading. (If the required reading credit was completed
prior to receiving the Provisional Certificate, it need
not be repeated within the required credit for the
Professional Education
Certificate.)
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Procedures
for Professional Education Certification
The Candidate Shall:
-
Submit
a planned program of study beyond the bachelor’s
degree signed by the advisor and candidate.
-
If
the candidate has been admitted to a master’s degree
program, he/she may submit a copy of the Authorization
of Graduate Degree Program, signed by the advisor,
with the application as evidence that the student is
pursuing a "planned course of study beyond the
bachelor’s degree."
-
A
candidate who is not pursuing a graduate degree or who
has initially been granted non-degree status in
graduate school, or who is pursuing undergraduate
study may obtain approval for a "planned course
of study" beyond the bachelor’s degree from an advisor
in the appropriate department by contacting
the EHS Center for Student Services. The student is
expected to have a signed program on file before
registering for his or her first graduate course work
at Central Michigan University.
-
Obtain
an application for a Professional Education Certificate
from the EHS Center for Student Services, 204 Ronan Hall,
when the last of the requirements are in progress.
-
Fill
out the application and return it to the EHS Center for
Student Services.
-
Return
a copy of the provisional certificate
-
Send
official transcripts directly to the EHS Center for Student
Services for any of the 18 hours of credit not earned at
Central Michigan University, including an official
transcript of the reading requirement when appropriate.
The
University will:
-
Evaluate
the qualifications of the candidate to determine whether
he or she satisfies requirements for a Professional
Education Certificate.
-
Obtain
a statement of support or recommendation from an
appropriate school official concerning the relevance of
this program plan for the professional development of
the candidate.
-
Recommend
the candidate to the State Department of Education for a
Professional Education Certificate if his or her
qualifications are found satisfactory.
-
Record
issuance of the Professional Education Certificate on
the student’s permanent record when notified by the
State Department of
Education.
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Professional
Education Certificate Renewal
-
Professional
Education Certificate is valid for 5 years and shall be
renewed at the end of the 5-year period for an
additional 5 years upon the applicant’s completion of
6 semester hours of academic credit from an approved
teacher preparation institution, or the submission of
evidence of the equivalent in continuing education units
completed through professional development programs or
professional activities defined and approved by the
State Board. Submission is made to the Michigan
Department of Education.
-
For
persons who do not complete the requirements of subrule
(1) of this rule, the certificate expires on June 30 of
the year of the certificate’s expiration.
-
To
reinstate an expired Professional Education Certificate,
a person shall apply to the State Board for a
reinstatement and shall present evidence of the
completion of the 6 semester hours, or their equivalent,
in approved professional development programs or
approved professional activities specified in subrule
(1) of this rule.
-
Credit
completed out of state shall be in an approved teacher
education institution and approved by the Michigan State
Board of Education prior to enrolling in a
course.
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