Levels Of admission to the teacher education program Simpson College

Students must satisfy all components of the Levels of Admission to the Teacher Education Program - Level IA, Level IB, Level II, Level III -  in order to be recommended for licensure in the state of Iowa.

Final decisions regarding students' admission to the Levels of Admission to the Teacher Education Program rest with the Teacher Education Committee (TEC). Decisions of the TEC may be appealed to the TEC and then to the Academic Dean and finally the College President. Appeals must be made in writing and submitted within three weeks of notification of the decision.

Level IA: Provisional admission to the teacher education program

1. Completed Education 114 (Foundations of Education) with a"C-" or higher grade. Students may repeat Education 114 only once during a three year period.
2. Attended a Teacher Education Orientation Workshop (generally as part of Education 114 or 129T) and signed the Orientation Attendence and Preliminary FBI Background Check Information Sheets.
3. Completed a minimum of ten (10) clock hours of field experience (generally as part of Education 114 or 129T).
4. Received a positive recommendation from the Education 114 professor.
5. Received the recommendation of the Education Department and approval of the Teacher Education Committee.

Due: Submit an application and supporting materials during enrollment in Education 114 (Foundations of Education) or Education 129T (Orientation to the Teacher Education Program). The 114 professor will announce the due date in class.  Application must be submitted and approved prior to taking Education 229 (The Learning Process) or 300-level education courses.  Transfer students should consult with the Education 114 professor, the Education 129T professor, their education adviors, or the Education department chair.

Level IB: Full Admission of the Teacher Education Program

1. Admission to Level IA.
2. Scored at or above the minimum cutoff score on the C-BASE basic skills test. 

   	Undergraduate	Transition-to-Teaching Program	MAT
   Min. CBASE	235 (Spring 08 = 250)	275	275

   Note: The C-BASE test is administered through the Hawley Learning Center. Students may retake the test only once.  Students are advised to take the test between the end of the first year and the middle of the second year.  Test scores will be distributed to students, advisors, and the Teacher Education Program.  Students will not be admitted to Level II or any education methods courses (i.e. art, music, and physical education methods courses) or 300 level education courses until they have been accepted into Level IB.
3. Satisfactory progress, throughout the Teacher Education Program, on Competency #10 and 11 indicators.
4. Satisfactory progress noted during the Competency Portfolio screening.

Level II: Admission for student teaching

1. Admitted to Level IA and Level IB within the past two years.
2. Earned a minimum cumulative GPA with no grade lower than a "C-" in the major(s) and in courses required for Iowa teacher licensure (i.e. courses required for each major and endorsement program, math competency, both science courses, all education courses, etc.)

   	Undergraduate	Transition-to-Teaching Program	MAT
   Min. GPA	2.75	2.75	2.75 Cumulative              3.0 Major endorsement

3. Successful completion of a minimum of 70 hours of field experience-- taken as part of education courses and/or Education 241--Field Experience in Education.  Students must meet the minimum competency level in each assessment area.  Students who do not meet the minimum level may be placed on probation in the Teacher Education Program and/or dismissed from the program. 
4. Successfully complete the technology modules as part of a variety of courses.
5. Received "satisfactory" ratings—at or above the minimum competency level--from members of the Education Department during the department screening meetings.  Screening meetings are conducted every semester.  
6. Obtained a minimum of three (3) satisfactory evaluations from the following:  a) the candidate's advisor, b) a full-time Education Department member who has supervised the student in at least one class and practicum setting, and c) a professor in each endorsement area. Each evaluation must be an affirmation of the candidate's ability to successfully complete the student teaching assignment(s). 
7. Satisfactory progress made on the Portfolio review.
8. Received the recommendation and approval of the Education Department and approval of the Teacher Education Committee.
   

Due: Application packets and Competency Portfolios are due no later than September 11 for a spring semester student teaching assignment or January 17 for a fall semester student teaching assignment.  Packets are available during the student teaching application meeting.  Students will be notified of their acceptance into the student teaching program and the date and site(s) of the student teaching assignment(s); students should NOT contact schools regarding possible student teaching placements.   An Orientation to Student Teaching meeting will be held during the semester prior to student teaching.

Level III: Recommendation for teacher licensure

1. Admitted to Level II during the previous semester
2. Maintained a minimum cumulative GPA and earned a "C-" or higher in all courses required for the major(s) and for teacher licensure (i.e. courses required for each major and endorsement program, math competency, both science courses, all education courses, etc.).

   	Undergraduate	Transition-to-Teaching Program	MAT
   Min. GPA	2.75	2.75	2.75 Cumulative              3.0 Major endorsement

3. Met the state's requirement for mathematics competency (with a grade of "C-" or higher):
   • Elementary (K-6):
     1. Math 116 Math for Elementary Teachers (or a higher level mathematics class)
     2. Secondary (7-12) Options:
        Math 110 Intermediate Algerbra  (or higher level course) , or
        Math CLEP test of Math 110 (or higher level), or
        Math 110 Equivalency Exam (administered through Hawley Academic Resource Center)
4. Met the science requirement for Teacher Education students (with a grade of "C-" or higher): completion of at least one physical science course and one biological science course.
5. Met all Iowa Department of Education and Simpson Teacher Education Program competency requirements.
6. Met all college graduation requirements including Writing, Foreign Language, and Global Awareness Competencies.
7. Completed the student teaching assignment(s) with a "P" (passing) grade.
8. Received positive recommendations from the college student teaching supervisor(s) in conjunction with the mentoring teacher(s), the Education Department, and the Teacher Education Committee. The Education Department Chair makes the official licensure recommendation.

Due: Upon completion of all college and Education Department requirements, students may submit a completed licensure application to the Education Department secretary; attach a cashier’s check or money order for the amount specified.  The college must submit your licensure application; you cannot apply directly to the State Department of Education.