candidate must demonstrate all four domains of the Kentucky Framework for Teaching (KFfT), at the “beginning” level.

  • Demonstrate organization and professionalism [Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities]
  • Complete and submit the proper forms and fees for graduation and licensure.
  • Demonstrate content and pedagogical knowledge through academic achievement [Domain 1: Planning and Preparation, Domain 2: Classroom Environment, and Domain 3: Instruction]
  • Complete the entire student teaching experience, with KFfT domain scores of 2 (beginning level) on all major assessments.
  • Earn a final cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher, at the end of the final semester.
  • Submit a competent, Phase III, electronic portfolio aligned with Kentucky Teacher Standards or Kentucky Framework for Teaching, with all needed documents posted, as evidence.

Note: Sometimes the Teacher Education Committee must make policy or procedural changes between catalogue publications, in order to meet legal or accreditation mandates or to address student or program needs. These changes may supersede what is written in a student's Catalogue of record. If this happens, students must discuss their individual situations with their advisors to determine the best path for them to meet the requirements of their next benchmark.

ETS PRAXIS EXAMINATIONS

The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) requires all students enrolled in educator preparation programs in the Commonwealth to pass specific Praxis examinations published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS; http://www.ets.org) for (1) educator program admission and (2) teacher certification. In order to reach Benchmark II: Admission to an Undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (EPP), students must pass a computerized Praxis exam, Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE), including scores on three subtests: Reading (5712), 156; Writing (5722), 162; and Mathematics (5732), 150. Students are strongly encouraged to take this exam with plenty of time for one or more retakes, if needed, so they will stay on track in their programs.

Later, to reach Benchmark III: Admission to Student Teaching, students must pass the ETS Praxis II exams that are required by their EPPs, as dictated by EPSB. Since these can change, students must check online at http://www.ets.org/praxis/ky/requirements to affirm which tests they need to take for certification in Kentucky. It is important for students to understand that, to complete an EPP, they must meet all requirements for Kentucky certification in their programs, whether they plan to teach inside or outside the Commonwealth, to teach in a public or private school, or even not to teach at all.

FIELD EXPERIENCES

In order to prepare graduates for the real world of teaching, the School of Education provides multiple opportunities for teacher candidates to practice what they learn through their coursework through field experiences in a variety of public and private school settings. In contrast to universities that provide one or two field courses, the Educator Preparation Programs imbed field experiences throughout their curricula, starting with the introductory course. Before beginning field experiences each academic year, candidates must submit clear state-level criminal reports each academic year, which they must obtain themselves, through the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts (http://courts.ky.gov/aoc/Pages/default.aspx).

Field experiences are organized by the School of Education; candidates do not set up their own. In

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