Special Facilities and Services

ADMISSION, RETENTION AND EXIT FROM TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

A student must be admitted, retained in, and successfully exit from a state-approved teacher education program in order to receive a teaching certificate. The components of an approved teacher preparation program include: 1) an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, 2) completion of approved teaching subject matter field(s), 3) successful completion of state mandated testing, 4) completion of a teacher preparation program, including student teaching, 5) and verification by program faculty that all applicable standards have been met.

The College of Education Certification Program Faculties, the College of Education Director of Academic Services and Teacher Certification, and the University Registrar are charged with the responsibility to monitor a student's progress through the teacher preparation program, and to recommend to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) that a successful candidate be awarded a state teaching license (certificate).

Continuous Assessment in Teacher Education Programs

The three assessments will occur upon entry into the Teacher Education Program, at a midpoint in the program (no later than the semester prior to student teaching), and as students exit the program following student teaching. Assessments will include, but are not limited to: (a) appropriate scores on approved standardized tests, (b) review of grades via inspection of transcript, (c) personal and professional skills assessed during interviews with program faculty, when taking campus based courses, and during field experiences, (d) portfolio documents, and (e) continued adherence to the KY Professional Code of Ethics.

Following admission to a teacher education program, if problems have been identified at any assessment point, program faculty will determine a plan for addressing the problems and implement the plan including feedback and direction to the student. In addition, if specific strengths are recognized during these assessments, the student will be commended.

Standards for Admission to a Teacher Education Program

1. Candidates for admission must have completed at least 60 semester hours, or, if pursuing initial certification as a post-baccalaureate graduate or graduate student, must have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

2. Candidates for admission must demonstrate academic achievement by earning a minimum overall GPA of 2.50. In addition, post-baccalaureate graduate and graduate level students must demonstrate a minimum 2.50 GPA in the teaching subject matter field(s). Students seeking admission to a Master's Degree initial certification program must also satisfy UK Graduate School admissions standards.

3. Candidates for admission must certify their knowledge of the Kentucky Professional Code of Ethics and must sign a state mandated character and fitness review.

4. Candidates for admission must demonstrate aptitude for teaching by presenting three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the candidate's potential success in teaching.

5. Candidates must present an Admissions Portfolio. Although the contents of the portfolio will vary by program, it will include at least the following: "best piece" sample(s) of writing in the subject matter field(s); evidence of experience with students and/or community; and a written autobiography or resume.

6. Candidates for admission must demonstrate an acceptable level of skills in written communication. This will be assessed through an on-demand writing task at the time of the interview. In lieu of an on-demand task, program faculty may require that the candidate demonstrate having earned a minimum grade of B in a college-level written composition course.

7. Candidates for admission must demonstrate an acceptable level of skills in oral communication. This will be assessed by the program faculty at the time of the admissions interview. In lieu of assessing oral communication skills at the time of the interview, the program faculty may require that students have earned at least a B in a college level public speaking course.

8. Candidates for admission must present acceptable scores on one of the following standardized tests:
   • ACT -- with minimum composite score of 21.

   • SAT -- minimum composite score of 990 (combination of Verbal and Quantitative). A minimum grade of B on a college level written composition course must accompany the SAT scores. Composition courses normally used to fulfill this requirement include ENG 101, ENG 102, ENG 105, ENG 305, or an equivalent course from another institution. Advanced Placement English used to fulfill the USP writing requirement may also be used.

   • GRE -- minimum composite score of 1200 (combination of Verbal, Quantitative, Analytic). A minimum grade of B on a college level written composition course must accompany the SAT scores. Composition courses normally used to fulfill this requirement include ENG 101, ENG 102, ENG 105, ENG 305, or an equivalent course from another institution. Advanced Placement English used to fulfill the USP writing requirement may also be used.

   • PRAXIS Core Battery Communication Skills -- (646 required) and General Knowledge (643 required) tests.

   • PRAXIS I Reading Test -- (173 paper or 320 computer), Mathematics (173 paper, 318 computer), and Writing (172 paper, 318 computer).

   
   Rules which accompany the standardized testing requirements are as follows:

   • No standardized test scores older than eight years can be used to meet this requirement.

   • GRE scores may be used only by students who hold a bachelor's degree.

   • Students may retake subtests in multi-part tests.

   • Students seeking entrance to a graduate degree initial certification program must meet both the graduate school rules regarding the GRE, and College of Education rules for certificate program standardized testing.

   
   

9. For those programs requiring EDP 202 as a prerequisite for admission to teacher education, students must complete EDP 202 with a grade of C or better.

Retention of Candidates in Teacher Education Programs

If problems are identified, program faculty will determine a plan for addressing the problems and implement the plan including feedback and direction to the student.

Prior to the student teaching semester, each candidate will be asked to provide evidence in the form of the Working Portfolio to demonstrate the acquisition of skills related to teaching in the chosen subject field, and to document progress in any identified problem areas. Each candidate's portfolio will be reviewed by the appropriate program faculty, and continued progress through the program will be contingent on the results of this midpoint review.

Admission to student teaching requires a successful retention review and recommendation by the program faculty that the candidate be allowed to student teach.

All teacher certification candidates are encouraged to complete the required state-mandated examinations prior to beginning student teaching.

Exit from Teacher Certification Programs

At exit all teacher certification candidates must present an Exit Portfolio for review by the appropriate program faculty. The exit portfolio will be organized by Kentucky New Teacher Standards and will include a mix of items selected by the candidate and required by the particular program faculty.

The program faculty must certify that a review of the Exit Portfolio, and other pertinent documents has demonstrated that the candidate has met all of the Kentucky New Teacher Standards as a prerequisite to recommending the candidate for a teaching license.

Prior to exit from the teacher certification program, candidates must have successfully completed all On-demand Portfolio Tasks required by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

Prior to exit from the teacher certification program all candidates must achieve required cut-off scores on all Kentucky state mandated teacher certification tests.

State Mandated Testing and the Kentucky Teacher Internship

Upon being recommended by the College of Education for a Kentucky Teaching License (Certificate), a candidate will be issued a Kentucky Letter of Eligibility for the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program. Upon employment in a Kentucky P-12 school, the candidate will receive a one-year license to practice as a fully qualified intern teacher. After successfully completing the internship year, the candidate will be eligible for a regular Kentucky Professional Teaching License (Certificate).

Information concerning licensure in other states is available from the College of Education office of Academic Services and Teacher Certification.

Admission and Graduation for Secondary Education Students Not Seeking Admission to a Teacher Certification Program

1. All students pursuing a secondary education major without teacher certification must be admitted to advanced standing as described in items 2 - 4 below.

2. To be admitted to advanced standing a student must have completed at least 60 semester hours.

3. Students must demonstrate academic achievement by earning a minimum overall GPA of 2.50 at the time of applying for advanced standing. At the time of graduation, students must demonstrate not only a minimum overall GPA of 2.50, but also a minimum GPA of 2.50 in the teaching subject matter field(s).

4. All requests for admission to advanced standing must be reviewed by appropriate faculty advisors. Students not recommended for advanced standing by an appropriate advisor are ineligible to continue or graduate from College of Education programs.

Calculation of GPAs for Admission to Initial Certification Programs

In addition, candidates for admission to a graduate level initial certification program, i.e., secondary programs, vocational education, must have earned in their subject area fields a GPA of at least 2.50.

Master's degree initial certification programs require a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all graduate work prior to admission to the program.

UK cumulative GPAs are figured using the rules of the UK Registrar.

Undergraduate initial certification programs require a UK cumulative GPA of 2.50 calculated after the completion of at least twelve semester credit hours.

All courses used to satisfy subject matter certification requirements are used to calculate subject matter GPAs. Verification of subject matter GPAs require the use of any applicable non-UK transcripts for information about grades, credit hours and quality points.

Master's degree initial certification programs require an undergraduate overall GPA of 2.50, but do not require a UK cumulative GPA prior to admission.

Post bachelor's degree initial certification programs require an undergraduate overall GPA of 2.50, but do not require a UK cumulative GPA prior to admission.

Determination of GPAs for Admission to Initial Certification Programs
If the initial certification program requires a UK GPA, the GPA would be calculated using the rules of the UK Registrar.

If the initial certification program does not require a UK GPA, the required cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 is taken directly from the transcript that shows the award of the Bachelor's degree.

If an initial program requires review of the graduate GPA, all graduate courses taken on all transcripts are used to calculate the graduate GPA of at least 3.0.

Candidates for admission to a post-baccalaureate graduate initial certification program with less than a 2.50 cumulative GPA may establish a UK undergraduate GPA for the purposes of admission to the program. The UK GPA calculated for this purpose must include at least 12 semester hours taken from four sections of the UK University Studies categories and approved courses lists.

Subject area GPAs are calculated using all courses included on the candidate's approved subject area course listing form.

Questions regarding the College of Education Admission/Retention/Exit policy should be directed to:

Financial Aid/Scholarships

1. taken one semester of residence course work;

2. been admitted to and retained in the appropriate professional Teacher Education Program;

3. maintained a grade-point standing of at least 2.5 in (a) the area of concentration, major, minor and/or support areas, (b) professional education courses, and (c) entire undergraduate program;

4. completed all professional education courses except student teaching;

5. completed a minimum of 75 percent of the required hours in the area of concentration or the major. All of the minor must be completed if student teaching is to be done in that field;

6. applied and been accepted for student teaching two semesters prior to the one in which he or she plans to do student teaching;

7. been accepted by the school system and supervising teacher where he or she plans to do student teaching;

8. scheduled no more than 3 hours of college work to be carried during student teaching with no college classes scheduled to interfere with the teaching assignment;

9. presented evidence of having had a specified physical examination.

An additional factor considered in the review of applications for student teaching is the availability of acceptable school classroom placement opportunities. Students must be prepared to accept student teaching assignments in the Lexington area.

The student teacher is expected to follow the calendar of the school where he or she will do student teaching. Typically the student will be involved for the full school day. The student is also expected to attend all University seminars related to student teaching.

Students wishing to participate in the COST program (overseas student teaching) must apply and be accepted two semesters prior to the semester in which they plan to do student teaching and must complete the requirements for overseas student teaching.

Student Teaching in Agricultural Education and Family and Consumer Sciences Education

Certification

Based upon completion of a program leading to certification, including College of Education requirements and submission of satisfactory scores on all required assessments, a candidate is qualified for a Statement of Eligibility to do a one-year internship in Kentucky. When a candidate is employed in a Kentucky school as an intern teacher, a one-year provisional teaching certificate is issued. Upon successful completion of the internship, the candidate is eligible for the Professional Teaching Certificate.

The University of Kentucky also offers a wide variety of graduate programs leading to renewal of professional teaching certificates; to the issuance of Rank I (advanced) certificates; to the issuance of certificates in school administration, social work, and school psychology; and to the issuance of additional certificates beyond a candidate's base teaching certificate.

All applications for Kentucky teaching certificates by UK program completers must be done through the Office of Student Services and Certification, 166 Taylor Education Building.

Twelve-Grade Certification in Art, Health Education, Music, Kinesiology, Foreign Languages, Special Education, Teaching English as a Second Language, Computer Science (Technology), Reading and Writing, and Gifted Education

Administration and Supervision

Educational and Counseling Psychology

Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling