Undergraduate Teacher Candidate Handbook:Secondary and All-Level Benchmarks
Requirements for Admission to the Undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
Benchmark One: Junior Year
Academic Advising (Check: TSI/Course Completion/GPA)
Students will meet with an academic advisor to assure successful progression. The following list is a few of the things an advisor checks. It is advisable to check-in with advisor at the beginning and end of semesters.
- Most school districts require fingerprinting, which requires a social security number (SSN) for placements. Please talk to your advisor if you do not have a SSN to ensure we can make proper arrangements for your placement.
- Completion of a minimum of 45 semester credit hours of college coursework
- Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements met
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 as a prerequisite to SED 300 and RDG 380 [All level/Secondary]
- Documented early field experience observation hours (SED 300 or 330/50 hours)
- Degree evaluation in myLEO (DegreeWorks) to verify courses and requirements still to be met throughout the student's program
- Review of core coursework for appropriate grades and completion (usually after earning 54 hours of core and interdisciplinary courses)
- Prerequisites met (See Table 1)
Table 1 – Course Co/Prerequisites
| Course | GPA Prerequisites | EFE Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SED 300 | 2.75 | 50 |
| SED 330 STEM Only | 2.65 | 50 |
| RDG 380 | 2.75 |
Benchmark Two
Admission to Educator Preparation Program
Requirements for admission to the EPP
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.65 is required for admission into the EPP
- Minimum 12 semester hours completed in major coursework (15 hours for Math and Science
majors) - Minimum 15 semester hours completed content area-target certification, ie., Math and Science
- Must be TSI complete
Process for Admission
- Purchase TK20 (if not previously purchased)
- Complete online application through TK20 for admission to the educator preparation program Undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Admission Application. A Texas Education Agency (TEA) assessment fee of $35 and EPP admission application processing fee of $50, applied at time of application.
- Complete a written prompt within the application. This will be scored by a faculty member for readiness.
- Results of admission are recorded within Tk20. If a candidate meets admission requirements, an Acceptance Survey is sent to the candidate's Leomail and through TK20.
- Upon receiving the acceptance survey, applicants MUST COMPLETE the survey to finalize formal admission into the program by the deadline provided by the certification office.
- Failure to complete and submit the Acceptance Survey will result in failure to be admitted to the EPP.
- It is the responsibility of the candidate to inform the appropriate contact person in the event of a status change that prevents a candidate from moving forward with the program. They must formally withdraw from the program. Important contacts are:
- Certification office: Ms. Mitzi Hughes
- C&I Department: Ms. Nicole Jones
- Center Coordinator: Dr. Julie MIlls
In the event an applicant does not gain admission by not yet meeting criteria and/or requires remediation see below for next steps:
- Applicants who do not meet the writing prompt rubric score requirements will meet one-on-one with the EPP coordinator to determine appropriate intervention/remediation. For a premediation/remediation action plan, students will be notified by department personnel.
- Applicants who do not meet admission TEA requirements will be notified by the certification office to determine next steps.
- Applicants who do not meet admission requirements, must reapply to the program and complete/meet all admissions requirements (disposition survey, minimum GPA, application fee, etc.) to be considered for admission into the program.
Benchmark Three
Coursework Completion
Prior to student teaching, applicants must have:
- Approval to enroll in professional development/teacher certification coursework must be obtained and an official degree plan declared
- Overall GPA of 2.75
- Completion of a minimum of 80 semester credit hours of college coursework/degree plan
- Completion of all professional development/teacher certification, education core, and specialization/major courses required before internship/clinical teaching, as reflected on student's DegreeWorks, with a minimum grade of “C” and a minimum GPA of 2.75 in each identified areas.
- Complete 50 hours of field experience (associated with SED 300 or 330)
Meet with your advisor to review these requirements.
Benchmark Four
Complete the Application for Student Teaching
*Note: This application may coincide with or prior to Benchmark 2 completion; (Application to EPP)
Students must apply for their student teaching placement in the field-based educator preparation
program during the spring/fall semesters prior to beginning the clinical teaching semester (this
application is open the first three weeks of the spring/fall semesters).
Process for Completing Application
- Purchase Tk20 (if you have not previously purchased)
- Complete online application in Tk20 (components listed below), which includes a $40 processing fee
- Application opens on the first class day, check website for closure date
- Applications may not be processed past this date
- Applicants will choose:
- between traditional unpaid route or paid clinical teaching
- First and second district choices – see explanations of these in the Definition section – NOT all districts offer a paid teacher clinical teaching
- SED/All-level candidates complete one semester of student teaching, except STEM candidates may have the option for a year-long clinical teaching (STEM majors, meet with Mr. Clay Stanfield if you are unsure)
- Residents refer to candidates completing one semester of student teaching or STEM candidates in the second semester of student teaching. Clinical Teaching I refers to candidates in the first semester of a year-long residency.
The online application within TK20 consists of the following:
- District Request (includes a list of districts that offer pay for clinical teachers)
- Autobiographical sketch
- Signed commitment contract
- Schedule of courses currently enrolled in and courses still lacking
- Orientation PowerPoint Acknowledgement
- Students must meet all requirements under benchmark three
Applications are reviewed by the department and certification office. Completion of Benchmarks 1, 2, 3 and 4 are required to enroll in student teaching. If two or more separate faculty members file a Departmental ‘Fit to Teach' Concern form, a student may be prevented from interviewing or beginning the pre-intern/resident semester if a pattern of professional issues is documented.
Teacher candidate applicants will receive communication by email by their center coordinator (Dr. Julie Mills) regarding next steps (orientation meeting, interviews (if required), etc.). Questions related to the Orientation PowerPoint, should be sent to Ms. Mitzi Hughes.
Approval to Student Teach
An applicant who does not meet the established criteria for approval to begin student teaching may appeal to the Departmental Appeals Committee or to TEARAC for permission to begin intern semester or clinical residency semester, with the following exceptions:
A student may not appeal:
- to begin an clinical teaching placement if they have not completed a successful interview that resulted in a confirmed placement.
- a “Departmental review and non-approval to interview and begin clinical teaching” This occurs when faculty have professional concerns and completes two or more Department “Fitness to Teach” for Prospective Teacher Education Students Professional Behavioral Standards Evaluation forms, which are filed in the C&I department.
- a low GPA.
Benchmark Five
Field-Based Placement within our partner districts
The purpose of clinical teaching in the educator preparation program is to provide authentic observational experiences and structured teaching practice in school settings. The goal, first and foremost, is for teacher candidates to gain experience in performing the professional dispositions required of teachers in Texas.
Our ability to place teacher candidates with an effective cooperating teacher so that they can learn the profession depends on our strong relationships with dozens of local school districts. These districts also place teacher candidates from other institutions, so it is vital that we communicate with the district representatives in a timely and organized manner.
Our schools and cooperating teachers accommodate teacher candidates on a voluntary basis, so various grade levels or specializations may or may not be available on a particular campus during any given semester. TEA also requires candidates to be placed with a cooperating teacher who has three years teaching experience and has the same credentials the teacher candidate is seeking for their initial certificate. Also, district partnerships occasionally change, even at the last minute; if this happens, teacher candidates will be notified as soon as possible so that they can make the necessary arrangements. Note that for a variety of reasons, teacher candidates cannot be placed at a school where any relative is employed or is attending.
It is our policy that teacher candidates do not contact school districts or individual schools directly to request a placement. Even if they happen to know a principal, and she/he has said they want them to come teach for them; we must work through the district protocols. We are guests in our partner schools, and their normal and effective operation will be impaired if our candidates swamp them with individual requests.
The ability of our teacher candidates to complete the program—and their degree—in a timely manner is important to us. Please check with your departmental advisor in the first week of each semester to review your eligibility to apply for clinical experience.
Process for field-based student teaching placement:
- The center coordinator communicates with partner school districts to begin placements and considers applicants first and second choices (but these choices are not guaranteed).
- Ms. Darla Meek handles all student teaching placements for music (Music majors, contact Ms. Meek for questions about placements)
- Applicants may request to be placed outside of a partner school district by emailing the center coordinator. The request should outline any extenuating circumstances. Requests are considered based on the need of the applicant and availability of personnel to supervise.
- Districts may require an interview or additional information from applicants
- Districts may communicate with the applicants directly or choose to email the center coordinator. Check your school email frequently, including your SPAM folder for communication from your center coordinator or requested districts.
- Applicants will be notified by phone or email of their placement by the center coordinator.
- Applicants should contact the center coordinator if they have an issue with their placement.
- If an applicant has formally accepted the invitation to the EPP and the ISD, then something occurs to change their status of continuing with the program. It is the responsibility of the candidate to inform the appropriate contact person and formally withdraw from the program.
- Important contacts are:
- Certification office: [email protected]
- C&I Department: [email protected]
- Center Coordinator: [email protected]
Our schools and cooperating teachers accommodate teacher candidates on a voluntary basis, so various grade levels or specializations may or may not be available on a particular campus during any given semester. TEA also requires candidates to be placed with a cooperating teacher that has the same credential(s) the teacher candidate is seeking for their initial certificate; even supplemental certificates. Also, district partnerships occasionally change, even at the last minute; if this happens, teacher candidates will be notified as soon as possible so that they can make the necessary arrangements. Note that for a variety of reasons, teacher candidates cannot be placed at a school where any relative is employed or is attending.
It is our policy that teacher candidates do not contact school districts or individual schools directly to request a placement. Even if they happen to know a principal, and she/he has said they want them to come teach for them; we must work through the district protocols. We are guests in our partner schools, and their normal and effective operation will be impaired if our candidates swamp them with individual requests.
The ability of our teacher candidates to complete the program—and their degree—in a timely manner is important to us. Please check with your departmental advisor in the first week of each semester to review your eligibility to apply for field-based experience.
Benchmark Six
Secondary/All-level candidates typically complete one semester of clinical teaching (student teaching). However, some STEM majors may complete a one year clinical teaching program. STEM majors completing one year clinical teaching should read all of the clinical teaching sections. All other secondary/all- level majors should just read the clinical teaching section.
Two Semesters (STEM Majors Only)
This section is only relevant to STEM majors completing a two semester clinical teaching. All other candidates should proceed to the Clinical Teaching Section.
Contact for STEM majors: Julie Mills or Clay Stanfield.
Clinical Teaching Semester (All Candidates)
- Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching. Per TAC Title 19, Section 249.16 Pursuant to the Texas Occupations Code (TOC), Chapter 53, and the Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 21, Subchapter 8, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) may suspend or revoke an existing valid certificate, deny an applicant a certificate, bar a person from being assessed or examined for a certificate, or take other disciplinary action because of a person's conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or certain other criminal history. If you have the potential to be ineligible because you have been convicted of an offense, it is in your best interest to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation.
- Teacher Candidates must be enrolled in appropriate concentration coursework. The center coordinator will send an email with which sections to register for. You should also review your degree plan and meet with an advisor, because different majors have different requirements.
- Teacher Candidates must maintain a 2.75 GPA in clinical teaching, successfully complete clinical teaching seminar courses with no grade below a ‘C’ and have all other requirements and benchmarks met.
- Teacher Candidates should take any remaining TExES exams needed for their level or subject areas of certification. See certification section for more information.
- Teacher Candidates must apply for graduation at the beginning of their clinical teaching semester regardless if they choose to walk or not.
Benchmark Seven
Recommendation for Certification
Teacher candidates:
- Must be enrolled in appropriate concentration coursework
- Must have approval from the instructional leadership team (ILT) and center faculty for recommendation for certification
- Must have their Tk20 binders completed fully and submitted by deadline
- Must maintain a 2.75 GPA in clinical teaching, successfully complete clinical teaching seminar courses with no grade below a ‘C’ and have all other requirements and benchmarks met
- Should take content and PPR TExES exams needed for their level or subject area(s) of certification
- Must apply for graduation at the beginning of their clinical teaching I or clinical teaching semester II respective of their clinical experience, regardless whether they choose to walk or not
- Application for certification should be initiated toward the end of clinical semester II
