Teacher Education Program - Traditional Undergraduate

Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program is administered through a Performance Assessment System built on a continuous improvement cycle, which includes four progress checkpoints or “Gates”:

Gate 1-Admission to Teacher Education; admission to upper-level courses at the end of the ED 200 Block clinical semester
Gate 2-Review a candidate’s education program at the end of the ED 300  / ED 301  clinical semester(s)
Gate 3-Admission to Student Teaching at the end of the ED 401  clinical semester
Gate 4-Program Exit; recommendation for certification

Candidates seeking a recommendation for a teaching certificate must be accepted into the Teacher Education Program (Gate 1) to complete required professional courses (300 or above). Successful completion of Gate 2 is needed for continuance in coursework. Receiving a “developing” rating at Gate 3 is required to pursue the professional semester and obtain a student teaching assignment. Fulfilling the requirements of Gate 4 (exit from program) results in a recommendation for certification. (Scoring rubrics for ratings, recommendations, interviews and dispositions are located in the current School of Education Teacher Education Handbook.) Student teaching, which is a full semester of coursework, involves a two-day seminar (I-Steps) held on campus prior to candidates starting their minimum of 70-day student teaching experience and seven on-campus seminars throughout the student teaching semester. Candidates must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in the cumulative GPA (or obtain a grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed) for admission into the Teacher Education Program. Upon admission to TEP, GPAs are monitored throughout the remainder of the program to assure a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

Admission to Teacher Education Gates for Traditional Undergraduate Education Majors

Testing Prerequisites - Prior to program admission, the teacher candidate must successfully meet college readiness benchmark scores established by the state of KY. ACT and/or Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE) exams are used to determine readiness. Please contact the School of Education for details (859-858-3511, ext. 2223).   

GATE 1 - End of the ED 200 Block Clinical Semester - Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education:

1. Cumulative GPA minimum of 2.75.
2. Obtain a grade of ‘C-’ or above in each of these courses:
   • Composition ENG 110  or ENG 151  (or equivalent)
   • Public Speaking or COM 130  (or equivalent)
3. Complete all School of Education courses with a grade of ‘C-’ or better.
4. Complete successfully 60 clinical hours that includes at least one diversity experience with positive teacher recommendations (developing rating), including disposition ratings.
5. Sign off on the Community Life Form.
6. Submit completed “Character and Fitness” form that meets Kentucky’s Code of Ethics.
7. Complete a successful interview with a committee of educators.
8. Obtain an overall Developing score on the Gate 1 portfolio, including the School of Education’s Dispositions.

GATE 2 - End of the ED 300  / ED 301  Clinical Semester(s) - Requirements to continue in Teacher Education:

1. Cumulative GPA minimum of 2.75.
2. Completion of MAT 308  (or equivalent) with a grade of ‘C’ or above for elementary education majors; completion of Foundations Math requirement (MAT 120  or equivalent) with a grade of ‘C’ or above for all other education majors.
3. Obtain positive dispositions ratings.
4. Complete all School of Education courses with a grade of ‘C-’ or better.
5. Obtain a Developing rating in the ED 300  / ED 301  clinical(s).
6. Complete a successful collaborative performance event with a committee of educators.  
7. Obtain a Developing rating on the portfolio, including the School of Education’s Dispositions.

GATE 3 - End of the ED 401  Clinical Semester - Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching:

1. Cumulative GPA minimum of 2.75.
2. Complete Application to Student Teaching.
3. Obtain positive dispositions ratings.
4. Submit completed “Character and Fitness” form that meets Kentucky’s Code of Ethics.
5. Complete all School of Education courses with a grade of ‘C-’ or better.
6. Complete criminal background check.
7. Obtain a Developing rating in the ED 401  Clinical.
8. Complete a successful interview process with a committee of educators.
9. Obtain a Developing rating on the portfolio, including the School of Education’s Dispositions.
10. Interview with the Director of Clinical Experiences.

GATE 4 - End of Student Teaching - Requirements for Program Exit and Recommendation for Certification:

1. Cumulative GPA minimum of 2.75.
2. Complete Certification Application.
3. Obtain positive cooperating teacher recommendation, including the School of Education’s Dispositions.
4. Complete and meet the criteria on the “Character and Fitness” Form.
5. Complete student teaching with a Developing rating, including the School of Education’s Dispositions.
6. Complete a successful interview with a committee of educators.
7. Obtain a Developing rating on the portfolio, including the School of Education’s Dispositions.

Licensure Examinations:

All education majors are required to take the appropriate PRAXIS II Specialty Area Exam(s) and the respective Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT).

Certification

• The Teacher Education Program at Asbury University is approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Requirements for each teaching area at Asbury University are in compliance with the minimum regulations set forth by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board and are subject to change. Each program’s curricular design responds to the specific CAEP standards.
• Applicants for a Kentucky teaching certificate must complete state-approved program requirements and all graduation requirements which provide for meeting the initial academic certification standards. To be recommended for certification, a candidate must complete a successful interview with a committee of educators, and the portfolio review with a Developing rating, which includes a rating on candidate dispositions. For certification the candidate must also receive scores that meet or exceed the Kentucky established minimums on the PRAXIS II Specialty Area Assessment(s) and Principles of Learning and Teaching. Please contact the School of Education for details (859-858-3511, ext. 2223).
• When the teacher education program and Kentucky certification testing requirements have been met and when an application for Kentucky certification has been completed, a full standard professional certificate may be requested from the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

When certification is desired in another state, most state Departments of Education request a copy of the teaching certificate obtained from the state in which the teacher education program was completed. Graduates can contact a state’s Department of Education to ask for an application for certification and can contact the Certification Specialist at Asbury University for assistance in interpreting individual state certification requirements.

Asbury graduates currently teach throughout the United States and in many foreign countries. Over 60% of the states, including Kentucky, belong to the Interstate Certification Compact.

Student Teaching Overseas - Asbury is affiliated with Interaction International / STAGE (Student Teaching and Global Experiences). Dual placement is necessary, with candidates teaching stateside in a local school district with supervision by Education faculty during half of the professional semester and teaching overseas during the other half of the semester. There is an application and stateside training fee. Candidates must apply at least one full calendar year in advance of student teaching placement. Contact the Director of Clinical Experiences in the School of Education for details and application specifications.

Major Requirements

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board mandates four levels of certification requirements which include Elementary (P-5), Middle School (5-9), Secondary (8-12), and all grade levels (P-12) Education. Students must meet the requirements of one of the prescribed certification programs. Fifty percent of the major must be taken at Asbury University to receive a degree, and student teaching must be completed in a school district with which Asbury has a contractual agreement.

All program requirements are in response to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board and are subject to change.