Four Phases of Teacher Education

Teacher education has four phases from your first 48 credit hours through Teacher Candidacy, Student Teaching, Graduation, and Certification.

Phase I – First 48 Hours at the Rock

Declare Education as a major; however, not accepted in Teacher Candidacy - must complete department Teacher Candidacy Application
Participate in FYRST experience (Education major cluster)
Take Rock Studies courses including the pre-requisites for Teacher Candidacy
See your advisor and your RockAudit for individual department requirements
Study, follow, and be prepared to be assessed----the unit disposition rubric found by clicking HERE.
Check out these clubs/organizations and student programs to get involved and participate in high-impact practices

Note: Per PDE, for a three-year period beginning summer 2022, basic skills no longer need to be met via testing

READ the Teacher Education Policy Manual

Clearance - Policy, Instructions and Clearance Portal Procedures

Familiarize yourself with PDE standards, resources, and the Code of Conduct for Educators

P-4/SPED Basic Skills Testing Preparation Plan

Phase II – Application to Teacher Candidacy - Being Admitted into Upper Division Courses

Phase II Video Overview

During the semester in which the 48^thcredit is taken, students apply for admission to Teacher Candidacy (not over 60 credits):

A minimum of 3.0 GPA, or a 2.8 GPA with passing basic skills test(s) as noted below:
- We are grandfathering all students with a 2.8 GPA or higher who meet all other department specific requirements for candidacy to be granted candidacy with advisor recommendation until fall 2023.
- Starting fall 2023, to earn candidacy, following Chapter 354, students must satisfy one of the options listed below:
  1. 3.0 GPA and meet other department specific requirements
  2. 2.8 GPA and demonstrate basic skills as defined by pre-Act 55 of 2022 standard found on the PDE website and meet other department specific requirements
Clear Act 34 Criminal History Record NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Handbook for details.
Clear Act 114 FBI Record Check NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Handbook for details. If prompted, please enter the following service code: 1KG6RT
Clear Act 151 Child Abuse Background Check NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Handbook for details. Select School Employee NOT Governed by Public School Code for the clearance purpose.
Act 24 Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Handbook for details.
Demonstrate competency in basic skills, only required for GPAs between 2.80 and 3.00
- Qualifying Scores SAT Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)
- Qualifying Scores ACT Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)
- Qualifying Scores PAPA Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)
- Qualifying Scores ETS CORE Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)

For more information, please see:

Must complete department Teacher Candidacy Application (see department for Teacher Candidacy Application)
- Health and Physical Education
- Music Education
- SEFE Undergraduate Program
- Elementary/Early Childhood Education and Special Education
  - Elementary/Early Childhood and Special Education Application Checklist - Please review prior to completing the DocuSign application.
Negative TB screening
Disposition Evaluation - To be completed and submitted with teacher candidacy application
Evidence of Act 126 training
- ACT 126 Training Options (suggestions below, other options available
- Option 1
- Option 2
Diverse Observation Assignment embedded into course (varies by major) (talk to advisor)
Other requirements as determined by the department - check with advisor
Continue the ePortfolio (on TaskStream when required, see course syllabus)

Phase III – Intent to Student Teach

Complete Intent to Student Teach Form one year prior to your student teaching semester.
- Applications for Fall are due Advisement Period previous Fall and for Spring, Advisement Period the previous Spring.
Maintenance of at least a cumulative GPA of 2.8, with the understanding that a 3.0 GPA, OR 2.8 GPA AND qualifying content area test score required for certification.
Up-to-date Act34/Act151 Clearances, Act 24(PDE-6004) Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form, FBI Record Check --- have PAE# available in case schools ask to look up FBI record directly from their office (see the Teacher Education Policy Manual, found on this website, for more details concerning clearance requirements).
Candidates who wish to student teach will be enrolled in a free D2L Certification Test prep course no later than the end of the semester prior to student teaching. Candidates need to spend at least 6 hours on this course and pass the required assessments prior to the start of the student teaching semester. Passing scores on all required certification exams will exempt a candidate from taking the Certification Test prep course. Candidates are encouraged to seek additional remediation prior to taking their certification exams if evidence (historically poor performance on standardized or computer-based tests, for example) suggests a need.
Therefore, if you have not already done so, plan to take the PECT/Praxis II SRU Prep Course on D2L, which includes "practice tests," exercises, and links to important testing information including sample questions at:
PECT - This includes PAPA testing.
Praxis
DARS report showing all requirements met
Plan to take Praxis II or PECT end of student teaching semester.
Advisors recommendation and signature as recorded on the Intent to Student Teach Form.
For more information, please see:

Phase IV – Application for Graduation and Pennsylvania Teacher Certification

QPA

A 3.0, or higher, cumulative grade-point average, OR a 2.8 cumulative grade-point average or higher AND a qualifying passing subject area assessment (Praxis/PECT) score as determined by PDE Pass Praxis II/PECT (content)
Pennsylvania has some of the highest cut off scores in the country.
Test(s) can be taken on-line at SRU (Indicate SRU as score recipient)
High QPA but unsuccessful tests = NO certification

Apply for Graduation

Review your Rock Audit to ensure that all requirements are met.
Log in to MySRU, Click on the Student Self-Service Tab, Enter the Banner Self-Service channel, Click Student, then Student Records and Apply to Graduate

Apply for Certification

Candidates who wish to apply for Pennsylvania certification must register with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and apply through the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) no earlier than the first day of the month in which they will graduate.
- Follow directions that are posted on the D2L Student Teaching site.

Find and Secure Your Job

Click here for a good start to your teaching job search

Dean’s Teacher Tips

A Webcast for Newly Graduated SRU Teachers Preparing for Job Interviews, Newly Hired Teachers in Their Induction Period, or Veteran Teachers Seeking a Refresher Look at Best Practices (updated regularly)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNoaWPuJ4DZfqx9Hsdo-tNQ

SRU Professional Development Opportunities---Open Free to SRU Graduate

"Dying to Be Heard: A Discussion about Black Maternal Health"
- Hosted by the SRU Gender Studies programs for current and former teacher candidates
- March 16, 2021 at 7:00pm
- Click here for the Zoom link
Teach Africa Workshop
- University of Pittsburgh is helping provide a workshop designed to help educators incorporate African culture and curricula into their teaching!
- April 17, 2021
- Click here for more information
"How to Effectively Teach and be Inclusive in Diverse Settings"
- Over 140 Local School Faculty and Administrators Attended the Zoom Workshop on January 28, 2021
- Click here to view the workshop now!

College of Education

Four Phases of Teacher Education

College of Education

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