Requirements

Admission to Teacher Candidacy (Student Teaching- Stage III)

General Requirements

The Candidate must:

  • Continue to meet all requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program.
  • Have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 based on all work completed.
  • Submit a formal application for admission to the Keeran School of Education Teacher Candidacy Program during the Spring semester of the academic year prior to the year he/she intends to student teach.
  • Submit a completed and signed character and fitness questionnaire contained in section III of the CA-1.
  • Have on file in the Keeran School of Education a signed and dated Verification of Federal Background Check from the district where the candidate will be placed for Clinical I and Clinical II and a Child Abuse and Neglect Check. These reports must not show any convictions that
    would disallow the candidate from serving as an employee in the school district. The district will decide if the candidate’s background check is appropriate for placement in the district for Clinical I and Clinical II (This is completed before admission to the teacher education program).
  • Sign the KSE Code of Ethics.
  • Successfully pass a medical physical examination.
  • Successfully complete Restraint Training.
  • Keep address, phone number, level of certification, area of specialization, and other changeable information including any criminal status changed up to date in the Education Office.
  • The candidate must present evidence of liability insurance by presenting current membership in an organization that provides insurance.
  • Successfully complete 80 college credit hours.
  • Submission of a valid and current record of a medical examination.
  • Be formally approved for admission to the Teacher Candidacy Program by the Teacher Education Committee.

General Knowledge

  • Have completed all required courses in general knowledge with a minimum, non-rounded GPA of 2.75 (All completed coursework must be on file in the Registrar’s Office).

Specialization Knowledge

  • Have completed with a minimum, non-rounded GPA of 2.75 and no grade lower than a “C” for all required courses in specialization knowledge (All completed coursework must be on file in the Registrar’s Office).

Professional Knowledge

  • Have completed all the prerequisite education courses with a minimum, non-rounded GPA of 2.75 and no grade lower than a “C.”
  • Have completed 75% of the course requirements in each specialization component or teaching field.
  • Have taken Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching Test(s) and all other Praxis Licensure exam(s) required for the program of study in which the candidate is seeking certification and either received a passing score or has developed and signed a success plan for remediation of the content.
  • Demonstrate appropriate knowledge and characteristics of a preservice teacher by receiving no Level 1(Ineffective) rating on each Key Assessment section that includes professionalism, critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration, diversity, research, personal growth, and reflection.
  • Have completed all required clock hours (over 200) of field experiences and entered the hours into the Kentucky Field Experience Tracking System (KFETS).  The University Supervisor will verify hours before admission to Teacher Candidacy.  These hours must occur in a variety of primary through grade 12 school settings which allow the candidate to participate in the following:
    • Engagement with diverse populations of students which include: 1) students from a minimum of two different ethnic or cultural groups of which the candidate would not be considered a member; 2) students from different socioeconomic groups; 3) English Language learners; 4) students with disabilities; and 5) students from across the elementary, middle school, and secondary grades levels.
    • Observations in school and related agencies, including 1) family resource centers or 2) youth service centers.
    • Student tutoring.
    • Interaction with families of students.
    • Attendance at school board and school-based council meetings.
    • Participation in a school-based professional learning community; and
    • Opportunities to assist teachers or other school professionals.
  • Review and sign a declaration to uphold the Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Personnel defined in 704KAR20:680.
  • Agree to uphold the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE).

Teacher Competencies

  • The candidate will successfully demonstrate understanding and application of the Kentucky Teacher Performance/ InTASC Standards and the Kentucky Framework for Teaching by scoring at the Developing level or above on all Key Assessments as documented in Taskstream. Assessments are based on the Kentucky Framework for Teaching and the Kentucky Teacher Performance Standards (InTASC).

Professional Dispositions

  • The candidate must score at a Level 2 (Developing) or higher on each of the expected dispositions identified on the Candidate Dispositions Inventory as determined by the University Supervisor, education faculty, and the cooperating teachers.

Lifelong Friends

“At KCU, you have the opportunity to make lifelong friends with other faculty, staff and students.  I know for
me, these friendships will continue into eternity as these will be some of my treasures stored in heaven.”

Dr. Mitch Marshall, KCU Professor

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