All teacher candidates complete a required course, Introduction to Exceptional Education, prior to admission to student teaching. To pass this course, candidates must demonstrate knowledge pertaining to categories, laws, regulations, and the needs of students with 504 plans, IEPs/IFSPs, IBPs, IFSPs, and GIEPs. Field experiences and clinical practice were planned to provide candidates with multiple opportunities to observe and teach students with special needs and students who are identified as LEP. We collect data on the demographics of the P-12 students our candidates work with in the field to assure they engage in these experiences.
Students take a course in Cultural Competence, in which candidates learned about working with and teaching individuals with a variety or special needs and those with limited English proficiency (in addition to many other aspects of cultural identities). Field experiences and clinical practice were planned to provide candidates with multiple opportunities to observe and teach students who are identified as LEP. We collect data on the demographics of the P-12 students our candidates work with in the field to assure they engage in these experiences.