School Personnel Preparation Standards - Post-Baccalaureate

School Personnel Preparation Standards - Post-Baccalaureate¹

The Pennsylvania State Board of Education and the Department of Education (PDE) have published revised Provisions and Standards for the Preparation of Professional Educators², stipulating a gradual implementation process beginning with the academic year 2001-2002. In the context of the Penn State calendar this means effective August 15, 2001.

These new Standards have an impact on the admission, retention, and exit criteria of all programs which prepare school personnel. Also, in some cases, the new Standards will prompt curricular changes. These changes are reflected on the program checksheets for each certification program.

Candidates seeking a professional PDE credential (certificate) who have already completed a baccalaureate degree program, or who seek an additional PDE certificate, typically seek admission into an "Initial Preparation Program"³ or into an "Advanced Preparation Program"⁴. The impact of the new Standards on each group of these certification candidates is reflected in the following policies.

A. Initial Preparation Program^{3
(Note: Applicants must be holders of a baccalaureate degree).}

Candidates seeking Penn State's endorsement for an Initial (e.g.: First Instructional I or Education Specialist I) Certificate to be issued by PDE meet the following Program Entry, Retention, and Exit Criteria:

1. Entry:
   1. If admitted to the certificate program prior to August 15, 2001:
      -meet criteria as per program information
   2. Effective August 15, 2001:
      -demonstrate academic background relevant to intended program.
      -hold a 3.00 cumulative grade point average in previous work, calculated as per program policy.
      -document six semester hours (or equivalent) of college-level mathematics.
      -document six semester hours (or equivalent) of college-level English composition and literature.
2. Retention:
   1. If admitted prior to August 15, 2001:
      -maintain progress as per program criteria.
   2. Effective August 15, 2001:
      -maintain progress as per program criteria, including 3.00 grade point average.
3. Exit:
   1. If completing prior to August 15, 2001:
      -meet all certification requirements in effect at the time of admission into the program.
   2. Effective August 15, 2001:
      -meet all Program and PDE multiple assessment exit criteria in effect at time of admission into the program.

B. Advanced Preparation Program^{4
(Note: Applicants must be holders of a baccalaureate degree and of a valid Level I or II certificate).}

Candidates seeking Penn State's endorsement for an Advanced Certificate issued by PDE meet the following Program Entry, Retention, and Exit Criteria:

1. Entry:
   1. If admitted prior to August 15, 2001:
      -meet criteria as per program information.
   2. Effective August 15, 2001:
      -meet program entry criteria, (may include GRE or Mat score).
      -hold a 3.00 cumulative grade point average in previous work, calculated as per program policy.
2. Retention:
   1. If admitted prior to August 15, 2001:
      -maintain progress as per program criteria.
   2. Effective August 15, 2001:
      -maintain progress as per program criteria, including 3.00 grade point average.
3. Exit:
   1. If completing prior to August 15, 2001:
      -meet all certification requirements in effect at the time of admission into the program.
   2. Effective August 15, 2001:
      -meet all Program and PDE multiple assessment exit criteria in effect at time of admission into the program.

General Information

• Any curricular changes prompted by the new Standards will be phased in as the programs' curricular proposals are approved through the regular University curricular process.
• A candidate pursuing both (a) a Penn State advanced degree (such as an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction) and (b) a professional PDE certificate (such as Reading), who at graduation from the major meets the Penn State program's degree requirements, but does not meet qualifying scores for the appropriate PDE test or the PDE cumulative grade point average requirement, is still eligible for the Penn State degree, but would not yet be eligible for the PDE certificate.
• It is understood that during the transition period from the current Standards and Policies to full implementation of the new Standards, unique circumstances may warrant additional clarification from PDE. Likewise, within the spirit and parameters of Chapter 354, a candidate encountering unusual implementation difficulty may use the program's regular petition process by submitting the request, with supporting documentation, to the Professor-in-Charge of the certification program.

For additional information, please contact the cited PDE web sites, a program adviser, or Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Studies,  Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, 278 Chambers Building, University Park, PA, 16802, jxe117@psu.edu, www.ed.psu.edu

Entrance and Exit Criteria

¹ This publication and a companion publication titled New Standards for Teacher Preparation Programs Culminating in a Bachelor's Degree are available at the following web site:http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/certification/. Vocational certificate candidates please see: http://www.ed.psu.edu/wfed/.
² Available on PDE web sites: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_education/7237

³ "Initial Preparation Program: A program at the baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate level that prepares candidates for their first certification as a professional educator." (Source: Chapter 354.1 - Definitions)
⁴ "Advanced Preparation Program: A program at the post-baccalaureate level for those who already have completed an initial preparation program. Candidates in advanced preparation programs pursue additional areas of certification or supervisory, administrative, educational specialist certification or letter of eligibility." (Source: Chapter 354.1 - Definitions)