Ella Cline Shear School of Education

Jolanda Westerhof, Dean
(South Hall 217)
education.geneseo.edu

HEGIS Code: 0802.00 (Early Childhood/Childhood), 0808.00  (Childhood with Special Education)

The Ella Cline Shear School of Education is committed to the preparation of outstanding teachers through the combination of a rigorous liberal arts foundation, a content-area specialty, and a series of courses on research-based pedagogical theory and practice. Geneseo works through a network of partnership schools to ensure that students have many opportunities to observe and work within P-12 programs as they develop as teachers. The program fosters appreciation and understanding of diversity and works with students in developing technological competence.

The School of Education offers certification programs in Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 6), Childhood with Special Education (Grades 1-6), and Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12). Students in the elementary-level programs can major in Education with a concentration in an approved liberal arts discipline or they may choose to do a double major in Education and a liberal arts discipline. Students planning to double major should consult with their advisor to be sure that the second major is approved to replace the concentration. Students seeking certification in Adolescence Education will major in a liberal arts discipline and earn an accompanying certification.

All programs in the School of Education lead to New York State certification. SUNY Geneseo is accreditated by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and all programs and degree options are held accountable to national standards. Undergraduate programs are reviewed each semester to check compliance with state certification and national accreditation requirements, and teacher candidates are evaluated at regular intervals in their programs to ensure that they are meeting the academic, clinical and dispositional standards outlined in the School’s Conceptual Framework. Candidates should meet regularly with faculty advisors and attend all advisement sessions in order to keep track of developments in the certification process.

Admission to School of Education degree programs

All undergraduate programs require the submission of an application and meeting academic standards to qualify for admission. We recommend that students admitted to Geneseo as first-year apply for admission into the School of Education during their first semester at Geneseo. Students who add/change to education certification after starting at SUNY Geneseo should apply for admission to the School of Education during the same semester they change their major. Transfer students should apply for admission into the School of Education at the same time they apply to the college. Admission criteria are:

1. College GPA of 2.75 for all students admitted after their freshman year
2. Admissions Essay

Applicants (all classifications) who do not satisfy the GPA requirements or Freshmen who do not rank in the top 30% of their HS class may apply for a waiver.

For information/application contact the School of Education (245-5560) or go to the School’s webpage (www.geneseo.edu/education/admissions).

General requirements for all degree programs leading to teacher certification:

1. Foreign Language Competency
   
   All certification programs require the foreign language requirement completion of college-level work in a foreign language through the second elementary (102)  level with minimum grade of C- or better requirement. American Sign Language through the 102 level can be used to fulfill this requirement.
    
2. Minimum Competence Requirement
   
   Teacher candidates must maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average requirement to continue in a certification program. In addition, a grade of C- or better is required for each of the following courses in education certification:
   
   Early Childhood and Childhood: INTD 203 , ECED 326 , ECED 354 , CURR 213 , CURR 313 , CURR 316 , and CURR 317 , ECED 351 , ECED 352 , ECED 353 , ECED 355 , FORL 101/102 (for FORL requirement), MATH 140 , MATH 141 , PSYC 215 , and SPED 224 .
   
   Childhood withSpecial Education: INTD 203 , CURR 213 , CURR 313 , CURR 316 , CURR 317 , SPED 224 , SPED 231 , SPED 371 , SPED 372 , SPED 382 , SPED 383 , and SPED 385 , and FORL 101/102 (for FORL requirement), MATH 140 /MATH 141 , PSYC 215 .
   
   Adolescence: INTD 203 , EDUC 204 , EDUC 206 , EDUC 215 , SPED 205 , INTD 301 , INTD 302  (FREN 320 , SPAN 320 ); and FORL 101/102 (for FORL requirement), PSYC 216 .
    
3. Department Writing Requirement
   
   Candidates in the Education Degree Program Early Childhood and Childhood will complete the Department writing requirement by successfully completing ECED 354 - Family and Community  and the key assessment.  Candidates in the Education Degree Program Childhood with Special Education will meet the Department writing requirement by completing successfully SPED 383 - Special Education Classroom Management Skills  and the key assessment.  For further information, please contact your advisor or the Dean of the School of Education.
    
4. TaskStream
   
   All students enrolled in blocks I-VI must have an active Taskstream subscription. To purchase or renew a Taskstream account please visit: login.taskstream.com/signon/. Students may choose to purchase one semester or multiple years when signing up or renewing an account. 
   
   Students in blocks I-VI must submit key assignments for their education classes through TaskStream. Successful completion of the key assignment (target or acceptable rating in TaskStream) is a requirement for successful completion of each education class. Please refer to course syllabi for specific directions for the key assignment and submission deadline. 

New York State Requirements for certification

Students applying for certification after Feb. 2004 must have a cumulative college grade point average of at least 2.5. Note, some school districts require a 3.00 GPA for student teaching placement and most masters programs in NY require a 3.00 GPA as an admission requirement.

Identification of Child Abuse and Maltreatment

Candidates who apply for certification on or after January 1, 1991 are required to complete a minimum of two contact hours of course work or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. This requirement can be met by satisfactory completion of the workshop within H&PE 350 or by completing a state-approved training workshop. Current information is available through the New York State Department of Education.

Dignity for All Students Act

Effective December 31, 2013, all applicants for Certification are required to complete six clock hours of coursework or training in accordance with Article 2 Sections 10-18 of the Education Law. This training is available only from a provider approved by the New York State Education Department. This requirement can be met by satisfactory completion of the workshop within H&PE 350 or by completing a state-approved training workshop. Current information is available through the New York State Department of Education.

School Violence Intervention and Prevention

Candidates who apply for certification on or after February 2, 2001 are required to complete a minimum of two contact hours of course work or training in the warning signs related to violence and policies related to safe climates, and effective classroom management. Current information is available at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/save.htm This requirement can be met by satisfactory completion of the workshop within H&PE 350 or by completing a state-approved training workshop. Current information is available through the New York State Department of Education.

Fingerprinting and Criminal Background

All candidates for initial certification and all new school employees must be cleared through FBI fingerprinting and criminal background check. The costs for the fingerprinting and the background check are incurred by the candidate. Current forms and regulations are available at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/ospra/index.html. All students are urged to complete this requirement prior to student teaching.

New York State Certification Examinations (NYSTCE)

Effective May 1, 2014 candidates for initial certification must achieve qualifying scores in the New York State Certification Examination Program: Educating All Students Test (EAS), required Content Speciality Tests for certification program.

Information on dates and test sites is available at www.nystce.nesinc.com and through the Career Development Office in Erwin Hall 116. For professional certification, NY State requires completion of a Master’s degree and three years of employment as a teacher.

Candidates seeking Childhood Certification (Childhood with Special Education and Early Childhood with Childhood Education majors) must successfully complete all three parts of each required Content Specialty Test - Multisubjects.  Registration for the certification tests is at nystce.nesinc.com.

(Current forms and regulations are also available at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/)

Student Teaching

Each program of the School of Education requires a one-semester student teaching experience. It is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with all requirements for the particular program. Information regarding program requirements can be obtained from this bulletin, the offices of the School of Education, and faculty advisors.

Students should file an application to student teach in the semester that is one year prior to the semester in which they plan to student teach. This must be done through the Office of Field Experiences. Usually, a representative of the Office of Field Experiences will hold meetings to explain the application process. Students are responsible for attending one of the Student Teaching orientation meetings. Applications for student teaching should be submitted the previous February for Spring placements and in the previous October for Fall semester placements.

The Office of Field Experiences initiates all contacts and makes all arrangements for placements. Student placements are based upon state requirements and availability of sites. Placements are made only in regional schools with which we have established working relationships or in one of the College’s satellite programs.

The policy of the College emphasizes that the student teaching experience takes precedence over all other activities during the student teaching semester. Additional academic or other work during the intern ship is not permitted except with the written permission of the Director of Field Experiences. Students wishing to participate in varsity athletics during student teaching must file the appropriate form with the Office of Field Experiences.

Students are required to enroll in student teaching internship courses offered by the College (i.e., EDUC 332 , EDUC 340  or EDUC 350 ; ECED 331 , ECED 333 ; SPED 391 ) which are appropriate to their objectives. They must complete such course(s) under the supervision of a member of the College faculty in collaboration with teaching and administrative staff members of area schools.

Before being admitted to a student teaching placement, each student must have:

1. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all course work undertaken, including a 2.75 in the major and area of concentration.
2. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the semester prior to student teaching.
3. Achieved minimum competence (grade of C- or better) in the required courses for the given major (see Minimum Competency listing at the beginning of the School of Education section of this Bulletin).
4. No grade of E in any required course.
5. Completed all appropriate prerequisites in professional courses in education. No incomplete grades are allowed in any areas.
6. Demonstrated readiness for the internship experience by successful performance in closely related activities, areas, and courses as determined by faculty.
7. Either A or B:
   1. Early Childhood and Childhood, and Childhood/Special Education majors must have senior standing.
   2. Adolescence Education majors must have senior standing and must have completed two-thirds of the requirements of the academic area in which they are majoring with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.

In addition to these requirements, students are advised to have completed the following:

1. Early Childhood and Childhood, Childhood with Special Education majors - twenty-one credits in their concentration, MATH 140  and MATH 141 , PSYC 215 , H&PE 350 , and the foreign language requirement.
2. Adolescence Education majors and those seeking a double major in a Liberal Arts or Science major and Early Childhood and Childhood or Childhood Education - two-thirds of the requirements of the academic area with a minimum GPA of 2.75, PSYC 216 , H&PE 350 , and the foreign language requirement.

Students planning to enroll in student teaching are advised that they must either find housing in the area of their assignment or provide transportation to the site. The Office of Field Experiences cannot make transportation arrangements, nor can transportation needs be a factor in making placements. Moreover, the College assumes no responsibility for transportation or expenses incurred during transportation to the site.

Programs

• Education, Initial Certification in Adolescence Education (7-12), B.A.

• Education with Second Major in a Liberal Arts Discipline, B.S.
• Education, Childhood Education with Special Education (Grades 1-6), B.S.
• Education, Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 6), B.S.