Elementary Education, B.A.

Curriculum for Elementary Education Major and Licensure

Students seeking elementary licensure must satisfy:

1. North Central College’s elementary education major
2. North Central College’s general education requirements
3. State of Illinois licensure requirements for grades 1-6
4. A minimum of 120 total credit hours to graduate

NOTE: Each course can be used for only one licensure requirement.

NOTE: All students completing a degree program must adhere to the number of credit hours as indicated below.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

All students wishing to pursue teacher licensure must apply for admission to the teacher education program. An application, which is available online, should be submitted as soon as the student meets the admission criteria. The following criteria have been established by the Teacher Education Committee (TEC) as requirements for admission to the program:

1. Complete and submit an application (as soon as items 2-11 have been completed).
2. Successfully complete EDN 101  with a grade of “C” or higher.*
3. Successfully complete PSY 100  and nine credit hours in the major with grades of “C” or higher.*
4. Students must earn a 2.750 grade point average (GPA) overall and in the major field. This includes course work from all institutions attended. A 2.750 GPA must be maintained through through graduation.
5. Students must earn a 2.750 GPA in professional education courses completed at the time of application.
   Note: A 3.000 GPA must be obtained by the end of the term prior to Residency (student teaching).
6. Must earn a “C” or higher in all professional education courses completed at the time of application. Candidates must receive permission from the Chair of the Department of Education to retake a course with a grade of “C-“.*
7. One of the following:
   1. Pass the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP 400)
                                    -or-
   2. A qualifying score on the ACT or SAT
8. Declare a major in Elementary Education (not applicable to licensure-only students).
9. Self-assessment of dispositions (the form and directions are included with the application).
10. Evaluation of dispositions by a faculty member in the major.
11. Four-year plan signed by the candidate’s assigned advisor.

*Note: Grades of “C-” do not meet the minimum standard of “C.”

Field Experience

Field experiences equivalent to a minimum of 180 clock hours prior to the student teaching residency must be documented and include the following:

• 150 hours minimum through methods courses with field experience components
• 15 hours completed in each EDN 101  and EDN 330  

Students are encouraged to complete more than the 180 hour minimum. Only 30 field experience hours may be transferred from another college. Official documentation of those hours completed at another college must be submitted directly to the education department. STUDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE OR USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Students taking a course with 40 or more field experience hours should develop their course schedule so that they have 2–3 hours available during the school day for 2–3 days per week to complete field experience hours.

Field experience assignments are arranged only by the cooperating school administration and the coordinator of field experiences. IN NO CASE should the student initiate contact with a school administrator or cooperating teacher, or have anyone else initiate contact on their behalf, to arrange an assignment unless he/she has received permission from the coordinator of field experience. Students taking courses with a field experience component must be registered for the course at least 15 days in advance of the start of the term so that a placement may be secured.

Students registering for any course with a field experience component are required to complete a background check and have a valid T.B. test. For further information, see the NCC Department of Education Student Handbook.

Student Teaching Residency

In this final step in preparation for licensure, students receive practical classroom experience in one of several schools that cooperate with North Central College in providing this program. All student teachers should expect to be assigned to any cooperating school system depending upon:

1. availability of qualified cooperating teachers
2. number of student teachers in the area
3. distance from North Central College
4. passing the Subject Matter Knowledge state exam
5. quality of the student teacher’s application and credentials

Student teaching residency assignments are arranged only by the cooperating school administration and the coordinator of field experiences. IN NO CASE does the student initiate contact with a school administrator or cooperating teacher, or have anyone else initiate contact on their behalf, to arrange an assignment.

Students should not plan to student teach in a school from which they graduated or in which their child/children attend, or in a school district in which a relative is currently employed or serves on the school board.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDENT TEACHING RESIDENCY

All students seeking placement as student teachers are required to submit a completed application for the student teaching residency one year in advance of the term of the student teaching residency, by the Monday of the third week of the term. Students who do not meet this deadline are not guaranteed a student teaching residency placement. Applications are available online.

Additionally, in order to student teach, all students must meet the following criteria:

1. Be admitted to the Teacher Education Program.
2. Complete a minimum of 15 credit hours at North Central College taken within the previous six years that include:
   1. one course in the teaching major at the 300-level or higher
   2. 155 (secondary/K-12) or 180 (elementary) field experience hours, prior to student teaching residency.
3. Secondary Education majors must attain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major, 2.75 overall and a 3.0 in professional education courses by the end of the term prior to student teaching residency (Fall, Winter and Spring). Elementary Education majors must attain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the major and overall and a 3.0 in professional education courses by the end of the term prior to student teaching residency (Fall, Winter and Spring).
4. Pass all areas of the Subject-Matter Knowledge state exam. If the Department of Education does not receive passing scores for the content test prior to the first day of student teaching residency, the placement will be canceled. Students should take the test at least two test reporting dates prior to the student teaching residency.
5. Complete all of the professional education courses and field experiences with grades of “C” or higher.* EDN 411  is the only professional education course that can be taken after the student teaching residency.
6. Complete anchor assignments, following Education department criteria, based on the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and submit before the student teaching residency.
7. Secondary Education students must complete nine of the courses required for the academic teaching major or course work in the teaching major equivalent to that as defined by the College.

* Note: Grades of “C-” do not meet the minimum standard of “C.”

The student must have transportation available and must be able to be at the appointed school during the entire day without any conflicts. Students are placed as student teachers within public school districts within a radius of approximately 30 miles from the college. Exceptions are made for students who wish to student teach in an urban setting. Students may be required to interview with the prospective school district in which they will student teach. Students may also be required to attend institute and faculty meetings which occur in August and September, regardless of the term in which they student teach. Some school districts require student teachers to complete an additional background check prior to beginning student teaching, in addition to the FBI background check required by the Department of Education. Students are responsible for any costs associated with additional background check requirements.

Student teachers are required to attend seminars on campus during the student teaching term, and to complete and pass the edTPA.

An additional fee of $150 is required for Supervised Student teaching residency. See schedule of Miscellaneous Fees.

Additional policies and information concerning student teaching residency can be found in the Department of Education Student Handbook and the Student Teaching Residency Handbook.

Requirements for Teacher Licensure

Graduating seniors should apply for a license to teach in Illinois by filing an audit with the department’s licensure officer prior to graduation. The licensure officer will process licensure entitlements only after the teacher candidate has fulfilled all degree and licensure requirements. Specific details are available in the education department and on the education department website.

According to Illinois Administrative Rule 25.100, “beginning February 1, 2012, candidates must have received a grade of C or better in all major and professional education coursework and in any coursework they are using as part of an application for endorsement or an approval. This includes transfer coursework, coursework taken in an alternative certification program and any undergraduate coursework that counts toward certificate requirements.”

The following must also be completed:

1. ILLINOIS LICENSURE TESTING SYSTEM (ILTS)
   Teacher candidates must pass the state-mandated Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) tests developed and implemented by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This includes the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) and the Subject Matter Knowledge tests. Registration information and study packets are available online at http://www.il.nesinc.com.
2. edTPA
   Teacher candidates must pass the edTPA, a performance-based assessment which is taken during the student teaching residency. Teacher candidates will submit their edTPA portfolio to Pearson Education and each candidate’s portfolio will be scored by two evaluators outside of NCC. Teacher candidates who do not pass the edTPA will not qualify for licensure.
3. Residency
   Teacher candidates must complete a minimum of 17 weeks of the Residency experience. The length of Residency for fall term is dependent on when the candidate’s placement school begins the school year. The candidate is expected to begin the Residency when the candidate’s cooperating teacher reports according to district policy and continue in the Residency through finals week. 
4. Post-Residency Field Experience
   Teacher candidates will complete a Post-Residency Field Experience for three weeks during D-term for licensure. During the three weeks in D-term, candidates are required to spend full days at the Residency placement site; will engage in phasing out of the full teaching responsibility; and, will observe other teachers in the placement site during the final week.
5. K-12 LICENSE
   Teacher candidates qualifying for the license (K-12) in art or music must have field experiences at the elementary, middle school and secondary levels. K-12 art, music and foreign language candidates may teach at the elementary, middle or high school level. K-12 candidates must fulfill the General Education and Professional Education Requirements listed in Secondary Education curriculum.