2007-2008 Undergraduate Academic Catalog - Plymouth State ...

Teacher Educationand fees apply to candidates carrying more than a total of 17credits hours in the student teaching semester; see OverloadFees in the Tuition and Fees section. Formal acceptance toStudent Teaching is determined by the Coordinator of TeacherCertification and Clinical Experiences at the end of the semesterprior to student teaching.All candidates for certification must complete a period ofsupervised student teaching within the state of New Hampshireat a placement approved by the Coordinator of TeacherCertification and Clinical Experiences.All student teachers are subject to New Hampshire statelegislation that requires all persons who regularly come intocontact with pupils on a daily basis for a period of time toundergo a full disclosure criminal records check, includingfingerprinting. The processing of the criminal records checkis conducted at the student teaching site school before studentteaching begins. The fee for this processing is the responsibilityof the student teacher and is paid directly to the school district.Inquiries should be directed to the Coordinator of TeacherCertification and Clinical Experiences.Student Teaching and Program Completion – Gate 4Candidates must satisfy all requirements for Gate 4 whichincludes satisfactory completion of midterm/final evaluations,required attendance at sessions, and recommendation for statecertification. In order to be approved for graduation, candidatesmust successfully complete student teaching and all otherrequired coursework and must meet the GPA requirement oftheir Teacher Certification program.Graduates of any of the Teacher Education programs atPlymouth State University are eligible for recommendation forNew Hampshire teacher certification by the New HampshireState Department of Education. Because New Hampshire isa member of the Interstate Certification Contract, Plymouthgraduates are eligible for certification in any of the Contract statesupon application to that state’s education department. However,the applicant would be bound by any additional requirementsof the receiving state. Information regarding the InterstateCertification Contract is available at www.nasdtec.org.All applicants for New Hampshire certification in Biology, EarlyChildhood Education, Elementary Education, English, MiddleSchool Mathematics, Physical Science, Secondary Mathematics,and Social Studies, must submit passing scores in both Praxis Iand Praxis II: Content Area Assessment. These passing scoresare determined by the NH State Board of Education and areavailable in the Office of Teacher Certification. In the near futurewe expect additional certification areas will be subject to PraxisII. Information regarding registration for Praxis II exams andalternative testing sites is available from the Office of TeacherCertification.The monitoring of candidates throughout their teacher educationprogram takes into consideration the personal attributes of thecandidates as well as their academic achievement. Continualassessment of candidates’ “specific strengths and weaknesses”in these areas shall be used to determine “continuation in orremoval from the teacher education program and the readinessto enter the profession.” [See Ed.604 Admission, Retentionand Evaluation Policies and Practices in Standards andProcedures for Approving Professional Preparation Programsin New Hampshire, available through the Office of TeacherCertification.]College of Graduate Studies Conversion Program for TeacherCertificationThe Educator Conversion program is an individually designed,competency-based graduate program of study leading torecommendation for New Hampshire educator certification.Applicants to this program must hold, or be in their final year ofcompleting, a bachelor’s degree. Educator Conversion programcandidates must hold the bachelor’s degree in order to qualifyfor full admission. Also, passing scores on the Praxis I arerequired for admission. Certification endorsement is availablein all areas covered by the University’s teacher educationprogram as well as professional certification areas that requirestudy beyond the master’s degree. No degree or diploma isawarded at program completion, but a certificate of completionis provided. Admission to the Conversion program is initiatedthrough formal application to the College of Graduate Studies.Application materials are available at the College of GraduateStudies Office and online at www.plymouth.edu/graduate.When students complete the program, they must file a degreeaudit/certification audit form to start the completion process. Atranscript audit is then completed and a letter with certificationdocuments forwarded to the student.Graduate Practicum (Student Teaching for Employed Teachers).Qualified participants in educator certification programs throughthe College of Graduate Studies, including candidates in theEducator Conversion program, who are currently employed aspublic school teachers in the area of certification endorsementthey seek, may apply to participate in the Graduate Practicumto substitute current employment for the required semester ofstudent teaching (internship). Candidates must have completedall other requirements for endorsement before participating inthe Graduate Practicum. Candidates apply for this alternativethrough the Certification Coordinator, no later than their last termof coursework before the practicum would begin. The AssociateVice President for Graduates Studies gives final approval forthis option. Employment must be verified by the candidate’ssupervisor and the supervisor must complete observationsof the candidate and must provide written evaluations of thecandidate’s work. The Certification Coordinator for GraduateStudies will assign one or more University supervisors whowill observe and provide evaluations as well. Candidates must224 Plymouth State University Academic Catalog 2007–2008