Admission Requirements for Teacher Education

In accordance with Kentucky regulations, the Education Department of Thomas More College conducts a thorough program of selection, admission and retention. This process is designed to ensure that those candidates who advance into the teaching profession will have successful and rewarding careers.

Screening Process
During initial course work, observation and assessment are conducted by the faculty of the Education Department and by other selected faculty.

Basic Skills Tests
Before entering junior-level Education courses, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in basic skills: reading, speaking, writing, and mathematics through passing scores on the Praxis I/PPST tests. All applicants for admissions to the Teacher Education Program must also earn a grade of “B” or better in a designated communications course.

Candidates may apply to take the tests in the second semester of the freshman year.  In this way there may be early identification of possible weaknesses, allowing time that may be needed for remediation and later retesting. Candidates who prefer may take some or all of the tests in the sophomore year.

Registration and preparation materials can be found at www.ets.org/praxis.

Application for Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Candidates may apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program when they have met the screening requirements. Application is usually made in the sophomore year after at least two education courses and approximately 25 hours of field work.

The following are required in order to apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program:

• Speech: A grade of B or better in one of the following: COM 105, 205, 207, 305
• Praxis I/PPST Tests (Candidates must pass all Praxis I/PPST tests to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program.  Minimum scores: Reading-176; Mathematics-174; Writing-174)
• GPA’s: cumulative: 2.75, Education, and content area(s)  must be 2.5 or above
• Virtus: candidate must be Virtus compliant, i.e., candidate must have signed the acceptance letter; passed the background check; completed the Virtus training; and remain up to date with Virtus e-mail bulletins

Candidates must submit to the Education Department by March 1:

• Application Form for Admission to the Teacher Education Program
• Signed Professional Code of Ethics Form
• Recommendation Forms (3) - from individuals who can identify your character
• and suitability for the teaching profession (family members not accepted)
• Reflection (Field Experience) Essay

Application forms are available in the Education Department.


Formal Evaluation:

Education Department
In a departmental meeting, Education faculty share their assessments of the candidate, examine the candidate's professional dispositions, verify the grade point averages, and form a judgment about the candidate's potential success as a teacher. Candidates with a positive evaluation are recommended to the Teacher Education Committee for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

 

Teacher Education Committee
The Teacher Education Committee (TEC) is composed of members of the Education Department, faculty representing other departments of the college, teachers and administrators from local public and private schools, and an admitted Education candidate representative. At a regular meeting of the TEC, the candidate is interviewed by two or three members. Prior to the interview, committee members review the candidate's credentials: results of screening tests, academic record, record of field experiences, written application with signatures of recommendation, three recommendation forms, portfolio and other relevant data. After the interview the committee confers, summarizes in writing, and informs the candidate of the result in writing.  Note: No candidate may be granted a degree in education or be recommended for teacher certification who earns a grade of D in student teaching.

Continuous Evaluation
After admission to the Teacher Education Program and thereby to upper division courses, the candidate continues to receive guidance and support. At the end of each semester, the grade point average is reviewed to ensure continuation in good standing.

Application to Student Teaching

The following items are required in order to apply for admission to Student Teaching:

• Senior Status (minimum of 90 semester hours)
• Previous admission to the Teacher Education Program and continuation in good standing
• Completion of three-fourths of required professional education courses, including field work through junior level
• Degree Audit with Certification Officer/Senior Advisor by March 1
• Required grade point averages: cumulative: 2.75, Education and content area(s) must be at least 2.5.  
• Praxis II content Tests (Candidates must pass Praxis II contents test(s) to be admitted to student teaching.
• Manifestation of moral, social, and ethical behavior, which is acceptable in the school community and in the community at large.  
• Dispositions as documented on the Evaluation Form for Teacher Dispositions  
• VIRTUS training and compliancy

Candidates must submit to the Education Department by March 1:

• Application for Student Teaching Form
• Signed Professional Code of Ethics Form
• Satisfactory Portfolio Entries:
• Self-Analysis (Reflection of Field Experience)
• Lesson Plan
• Rationale

Secondary Education Majors:

• Completion of three-fourths of required course work in teaching major
• Signature of Chairperson(s) of teaching major on Application Form

Teacher Education Committee
Upon recommendation by the Education Department faculty, the qualifications and portfolio of each applicant for student teaching are reviewed by the Teacher Education Committee. The final decision on admission to student teaching is made by this committee.

Note: After Admission to Student Teaching, candidates are required to submit to a background check through the Kenton County Board of Education, and to provide documentation of a current medical examination, including testing for TB.  Student teaching cannot begin until the background check, physical exam and TB testing have been completed.