Minutes of the Council on Teacher Education – October 26, 1999

The Council on Teacher Education met at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26, 1999, in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the MLK University Union.

Members present: Dr. K. Bower, Dr. Campanis, Dr. Edwards, Dr. Greathouse, Dr. Hooser, Dr. Hussey, Dr. Olsen, Ms. Traub, Ms. Sudduth, Dr. Wolf, Dean Hitch.

Staff present: Ms. Wilson – CEPS

Guests present: Dr. Carol Helwig, Dr. Kathlene Shank, Dr. Brenda Wilson

1. Minutes

The Minutes of October 12 were approved.

2. 99-11 Program Revision for SPE and EC/ELE/MLE Majors – Substitution of STG 4000 for STG 3000

III. 99-12 Change in Course Description for STG 4000 and STG 3000 – Change in granting credit towards graduation

IV 99-13 Change in Catalog Copy – Student Teaching General Information

STUDENT TEACHING

To be eligible for a student teaching assignment, a student must attain 90 semester hours or more toward graduation and must have complied with all regulations and qualifications relative to "University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses" and "University Approval to Student Teach." Students must register for Student Teaching 4001 through EIU to qualify for graduation. Registration and fees are required as with other regular course work. Students are assigned to student teach in public schools in one of the student teaching centers located throughout the state. Assignments are made by the Student Teaching Coordinators. The public school cooperating teacher to whom each student is assigned holds licensure consistent with the licensure the student teacher is seeking and the setting and subject area assignment are appropriate to the license. Students engaged in student teaching are limited to a total academic load of 15 semester hours (except in Special Education and Family and Consumer Sciences) and the number of hours of outside work permitted is restricted. A full semester (15 or 16 weeks) of assigned student teaching/professional experience is required of all students seeking initial licensure. Students should consult the Professional Education Requirements for Teacher Certification Programs and individual Course Listings for specific information.

Application Process

Every student planning to student teach must attend the Application to Student Teach Meeting (announced by Student Teaching) during the Fall semester preceding the academic year in which the student plans to student teach. For example, a student who plans to student teach during the 2001-2002 academic year must attend the meeting in Fall, 2000. At this meeting students will learn of the procedures they must follow in order to student teach and receive an application package. All application materials received at that meeting must be completed and turned in to Student Teaching by the announced deadline date. Failure to attend a meeting to apply to student teach or failure to complete the application materials by the deadline will result in a minimum of a one-year delay in student teaching.

All student teaching at Eastern is completed in approved sites only. Student Teaching Coordinators make placements, supervise, and evaluate student teachers in collaboration with the public school cooperating teacher in the local schools. Students must student teach in an approved site. Students cannot student teach in districts where they attended school or in districts in which relatives are employed or where there is a significant conflict of interest. Students cannot be employed in the district in which they are student teaching. The University retains the right to determine student teaching placement(s).

Many school districts (especially those in the Chicago area) have additional criteria and standards for those who wish to student teach. Placement in the Chicago area is very competitive.

Prerequisites for Student Teaching

1. Course Prerequisites:

1. Early Childhood Education Curriculum. Students must have completed Elementary Education 4880 and all pre-requisites and co-requisites to it.
2. Elementary School Curriculum. Students must have completed Elementary Education 4880 and all pre-requisites and co-requisites to it.
3. Special Education Curriculum. To student teach in Special Education, students must have completed Special Education 4900 and 4901, and all prerequisites to them.
4. Middle Level Education Curriculum. Students must have completed Middle Level Education 3110 and 4280 or an approved substitute and all pre-requisites and co-requisites to them. Equivalent courses submitted must be approved by the Dean, College of Education and Professional Studies.
5. Secondary and Special Area Curricula. Students must have completed Educational Psychology 3325 and Secondary Education 3330 (except students in the Communication Disorders and Sciences curriculum who take Elementary Education 2320), all required departmental methods courses and all course pre-requisites to those noted.
6. Alternate Secondary Education Program. Students in the Alternate Secondary Education Program must follow the same procedures as all other students when applying for a student teaching assignment. Students, in the Alternate Secondary Education Program, register for Secondary Education 4000, which includes student teaching. Secondary Education 3000 and 3100 are prerequisites.

1. Students must obtain a 2.50 GPA, both cumulative and in their major (some majors are higher), to be eligible for student teaching.
2. Transfer students must have been in residence at EIU for at least one semester or summer term.
3. A PPD tuberculin test must be completed and documentation provided to University Health Services within 90 days of the beginning of student teaching.
4. Criminal Background Investigation must be completed during the semester prior to student teaching.
5. Students will complete a sequence of supervised and evaluated pre-student teaching clinical experiences before the student teaching semester.

Criminal Background Investigations

All teacher licensure candidates are required to submit to a criminal background investigation the semester prior to student teaching. The criminal background investigations are conducted by the Illinois State Police and are coordinated by the EIU Department of Human Resources and the College of Education and Professional Studies.

University Approval to Student Teach

Approval to Student Teach is a multiple-step process, including earning "Departmental Approval to Student Teach." The Office of the Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies will send the applying student’s name to the major department for Departmental Approval to Student Teach. Students entering Fall 1987 or later must obtain a minimum grade-point average of 2.50, both cumulatively and in their major.

Departmental Approval to Student Teach

After a student has applied to student teach s/he must contact his/her own major department and submit an application to that department for "Departmental Approval to Student Teach." "Departmental Approval to Student Teach" is the responsibility of the candidate’s major department and must include the following:

1. Completion of courses in the major with a minimum of a 2.50 GPA and a 2.50 cumulative GPA. (NOTE: Some majors require a higher average in the major; please consult departmental requirements.)
2. A grade of "C" or better in each professional education course.
3. Evidence of recent participation in professional organization meetings, and/or appropriate activities with youth.
4. A portfolio submitted by the student to the department which includes: lesson plans, unit plans, and evidence of group work, communication skills, and ability to work well with youth (including #3 above), and a resume.
5. Other criteria as determined by the student’s major department. Department criteria are available in the Department Office.

Students must have received "University Approval to Student Teach," including department approval, no later than mid-term of the semester prior to student teaching (on or before October 15 for Spring student teaching; or on or before March 15 for Fall student teaching). A student who is refused "University Approval to Student Teach," or whose approval is revoked may appeal the decision to the Council on Teacher Education. The decision of the Council is final. Appeal forms may be secured from the Office of the Dean, College of Education and Professional Studies.

Pre-Placement Meeting

The first step in the placement process is a required meeting between the student and the prospective Student Teaching Coordinator who will be making placement arrangements. At this meeting the student and Coordinator will discuss the issues related to placement. Students must know any and all departmental placement requirements prior to meeting with the Student Teaching Coordinator and must have applied for graduation.

Registration

Student teachers must be registered for credit during the student teaching semester. Each student is responsible for registering for the section of STG 4001 (Student Teaching) appropriate for the major:

Responsibilities During Student Teaching

Students have a wide variety of responsibilities during student teaching. These responsibilities may extend well beyond the time when students go home at the end of the day. Student teachers should be prepared to attend school-related activities as determined to be appropriate in consultation with the cooperating teacher.

1. Students enrolled in student teaching must assume all necessary transportation and living expenses.
2. Students enrolled in student teaching are encouraged to live in the community in which they do their teaching and are expected to follow the local school calendar.
3. Student teachers are expected to follow the same schedule as their Cooperating teacher(s). Student teachers will be prepared to engage in school-related activities as determined appropriate in consultation with their cooperating teachers.
4. Students engaged in student teaching are expected to participate in all activities with their Cooperating teacher(s). This may include extracurricular activities as guidance programs of the school, audio-visual programs, after-school programs, study hall supervision, preparation of assembly programs, field trips, dramatics, attendance at P.T.O. meetings, faculty meetings, and generally participate as faculty members in all of the activities of the school and community.
5. Students who are absent from school (except for student teaching seminars and approved meetings) are expected to complete additional days to make up the days missed.
6. Attendance is expected at a series of seminars related to student teaching.
   Seminars will be planned and implemented by the Student Teaching Coordinators.

Coursework During the Student Teaching Semester

Taking additional course during student teaching is strongly discouraged. Students who wish to take another course during the student teaching semester must be granted a waiver from the Academic Waiver Appeals Committee (AWAC). If coursework interferes with the student teaching experience students will be required to drop the course or student teaching.

Outside Activities/Employment During the Student Teaching Semester

If a student’s activities or work schedule interfere with student teaching, the student will be requested to make changes in those activities or work schedule so they do not interfere with student teaching.

Termination of Student Teaching Placement

Students are guests of the host school district. A School district and/or the University retains the right to terminate a student teaching placement. A subsequent conference to examine options will be held with the student and the Student Teaching Coordinator and/or Student Teaching Chair, with input from the major department as needed or appropriate.

STG 4000

ALL teacher licensure majors (including Post Baccalaureate students) MUST take STG 4000 (except for Communication Disorder Science majors and ASEP students who complete the multicultural requirements within the course modules). This class is designed to provide experiences with school populations in multicultural settings and students with disabilities. Some students may wish to take STG 4000 during the student teaching semester. Options for STG 4000:

1. A student may take STG 4000 (or STG 3000 with departmental approval) scheduled during Intersession.
2. A student may be placed in an approved multicultural site during student teaching and complete a packet of activities. (There are limited multicultural placement opportunities in most regions.) Students who wish to complete this option must discuss this option with their coordinators during the pre-placement meeting.
3. A student who is student teaching in non-approved sites may complete the course by participating for an additional 25 contact hours in an approved multicultural site. Students who wish to complete this option must sign up in the Student Teaching Office within one week after they receive departmental approval (October 15 or March 15).

Overseas Student Teaching

EIU is a member of the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST), a group of state and private universities committed to quality overseas student teaching experiences. Under the agency of this organization, Eastern offers qualified students an opportunity to do their student teaching abroad. Placements for overseas student teaching are made in selected schools in Australia, Ecuador, England, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Scotland and Wales. Interested individuals should contact the COST Coordinator, Department of Secondary Education and Foundations, 2147 Buzzard Hall, for further information.

Application for Teaching Licensure

Students should apply for their teaching license early in the term in which they will graduate or complete all requirements. Forms and instructions are available in the College of Education and Professional Studies. Applications will be distributed through student teaching coordinators during the student teaching semester. Students should see the earlier section for information about the Illinois Certification Tests.

Application for Graduation

Students should apply for graduation a minimum of one semester prior to student teaching. Please contact your College Graduation Officer for more information.

22. 99-14 Course Outline Update for STG 4001

6. 99-4 Student Appeals (SA15)

Dr. Campanis moved and Dr. Edwards seconded the motion to put this item on the agenda. Voting and discussion will be later.

7. 99-15 Program Revision for CDS Non-Native EIU Graduate Students to be Allowed to Substitute CDS 5400 for EDF 2555

VIII. 99-15 Program Revision for CDS Non-Native EIU Graduate Students to be allowed to Substitute CDS 5400 for EDF 2555

9. 99-16 Removal of PED 2850C, HST 2000C, and FCS 2472C from the General Education Core

Dr. Greathouse moved and Dr. Campanis seconded the motion to suspend the rules and vote on this item today. Dean Hitch presented information to the Council on the proposal before CAA to remove PED 2850C, HST 2000C, and FCS 2472C from the general education core. Dr. Wold moved and Dr. Olsen seconded the motion to forward a statement to CAA regarding the position COTE is taking regarding this issue. The motion passed unanimously.

The above action approved the following statement to be sent to CAA:

The Council on Teacher Education strongly supports the position papers submitted by the Department of Physical Education, the Department of Health Studies, and the School of Family and Consumer Sciences to retain PED 2850C, HST 2000C, and FCS 2472C in the general education core.

10. Executive Director’s Report

1. Dean Hitch reported back on the change in the PHY Major with Teacher Certification. This change was made by executive action.
2. Dean Hitch handed out information from the Institution Reporting Guide and information regarding HB556 (Professional Development changes).

The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Bonnie Wilson, College of Education and Professional Studies

Please note: All Council Minutes are available on the Web at http://www.eiu.edu/~eiucote.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, 1999 at 2:00 pm in the Arcola/Tuscola Room of the MLK University Union.