A Center Of Knowledge Centered On You.
P-3 Modified Alternate Route
Information Packet
For Post B.A. Teachers in Pre-K – 3rd Grade
Classrooms
Revised October 3, 2012
College of Education and Human Services
1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043
Early Childhood, Elementary, & Literacy Education
Please read this entire information packet carefully. For any further questions and clarifications, please call the P-3 MAR office and we will be glad to help you.
Telephone Numbers: 973-655-7101, 973 655-7490 and 973 655-6909.
Fax: 973-655-7085
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/montclairstatep3mar
Dear Prospective P-3 MAR Student,
Welcome to the Montclair State University P-3 Modified Alternate Route Program for teachers currently working in Preschool through third grade classrooms as an assistant or lead teacher.
Thank you for your interest in the P-3 Modified Alternate Route Program at Montclair State University. To attend the program, you need to complete the application at the end of the packet, send a $60.00 check or money order for the application fee made payable to Graduate School – MSU, and provide your official transcript(s) from all the colleges/universities you’ve listed on your application. If you are an international student you must provide to MSU an official evaluation from one of the services approved by MSU (see page 4). If you do not have official transcript(s) or evaluation(s) on hand, order them and have them sent to:
MAIL APPLICATION TO: Montclair State University,
Elizabeth Kendall, P-3 Program Director
University Hall Room 2154
1 Normal Avenue
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
PLEASE NOTE THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
P-3 Certification Process - (Certification of Eligibility)
The certificate of eligibility (C.E.) allows you to seek employment and be hired as a Pre-school through Third grade teacher in the state of New Jersey. To qualify for a certificate of eligibility, you must:
§ Hold a B.A. from Accredited College
§ International students must have a WES (World Educational Services) Evaluation and have the equivalent of a B.A.
§ Have 60 Liberal Arts credits
§ Have a 2.75 GPA
§ Have passing score on the P-3 Praxis Exam 0022 or 5022 Early Childhood: Content Knowledge
§ NEW MANDATE Must complete the NJ DOE mandated 24 hour Pre-Service Course (part of our P-3 MAR program).
http://www.state.nj.us/education/
Cumulative GPA Requirement
New Jersey requires that candidates for certification achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 when a GPA of 4.00 equals an A grade for students graduating on or after September 1, 2004 (2.50 for those graduating before September 1, 2004) in a baccalaureate degree program, higher degree program or a State-approved post-baccalaureate certification program with a minimum of 13 semester-hour credits. Please note that a high praxis test score may offset a GPA that is lower than 2.75 but higher than 2.50. Click on the following link for more details: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/gpa.htm
If you do not currently meet G.P.A. requirements, you must first be accepted into the P-3 Modified Alternate Route Program and then complete our program with a minimum grade point average of a 2.75. The New Jersey Department of Education will accept your G.P.A from the P-3 Modified Alternate Route program when evaluating your credentials.
Once you obtain a certificate of eligibility and have been hired by a district as a full time lead teacher, they should enroll you into the Provisional Teacher Program. The provisional teacher program will involve mentoring that is conducted by the district where you are currently employed. At this point, you will receive a provisional certificate from the New Jersey Department of Education. Once your district has proof that you have completed a P-3 program and have been mentored, they will send a recommendation to the New Jersey Department of Education for your standard P-3 teaching certification.
NOTE: There is a fee involved with being mentored by the state that your district may not cover. Please consult your local Board of Education for more details.
Application Information and Procedures included:
· How To Register & Contact information
· Registration Instructions
· Certificate of Eligibility (CE) and 24 Hour Pre-service course
· Policies for All P-3 MAR Classes
· Tuition and Bill
· Paying for P-3 MAR Courses – Financial Aid and other Financial Resources
· MSU Email
· Important Information about Registering: Add, Drop, and Withdrawal
· P-3 Modified Alternate Route Course Descriptions
· P-3 Praxis Exam Requirement
· Masters of Arts in Teaching
· Student Agreement (MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED WITH APPLICATION)
· P-3 Application: complete and return to:
Elizabeth Kendall, P-3 MAR Director
P-3 Modified Alternate Route Office
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, New Jersey 07043
We hold orientation/information sessions before each new semester begins. Once you are registered, or we have your application, you will be invited to attend the orientation. It is very helpful to attend.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/montclairstatep3mar
Job posting, changes and Information about the program, NJDOE, and some fun and interactive postings.
Application Information & Procedures
1. This application is for the Modified Alternate Route Program for P-3 Certification.
2. Complete the application, have an official transcript sent from ALL the colleges you list on your application along with a $60.00 check or money order made payable to “Graduate School – MSU” to:
Montclair State University
P-3 MAR Program Office
Elizabeth Kendall - University Hall – Room 2154
1 Normal Avenue
Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043
3. If you are an international student (meaning you received undergraduate degree from outside United States) you will need to contact either of the following evaluation services to have your transcript evaluated:
Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. / Foreign Educational Document ServiceCenter for Applied Research Evaluations, & Education, Inc. / Foundation for International Services, Inc.
Educational Evaluators International, Inc. / Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Educational International, Inc. / Global Services Associates, Inc.
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. / International Academic Credential Evaluators, Inc
Educational Perspectives, nfp / International Consultants of Delaware, Inc.
Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. / International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
e-ValReports / Josepf Silny & Associates, Inc.
International Education Consultants
Evaluation Service, Inc. / SpanTran Educational Services, Inc.
Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. / World Education Services, Inc. (WES)
A2Z Evalauations, LLC
*Important * Information*
*** Notice: Your employer may need you to have the C.E. in hand before hiring or keeping you in your current position. Be pro-active and talk to your director, district, and the NJPDC.
REMEMBER:
The P-3 Modified Alternate Route is a non-degree, non-matriculated special program and has been approved for Financial Aid.
CONTACTS
P-3 Program Office - Montclair State University (Base Office)
University Hall
Elizabeth Kendall, P-3 Director Room 2154
973-655-7101
Nancy Rosario-Layne, P-3 Assistant Director Room 2157
973-655-6909
Kelly Stern, Program Assistant Desk 2154
973-655-7490
Fax # 973-655-7085
Cumberland County College (Branch Office)
Diane Cavagnaro, Coordinator for Cumberland County College P-3 MAR Program
856-691-8600 extension 422
Lynn Lichtenberger, Director of the Early Childhood Program at Cumberland County College
856-691-8600 Extension 405
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL: (973) 655-5147
(973) 655-7869 (Fax)
BURSAR’S OFFICE (973) 655-4105
(973) 655-4421
State of New Jersey Licensing and Credentials Office
(609) 292-2835
http:///www.state.nj.us/education/educators/license/teacher
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you DO NOT HAVE A P-3 Certificate of Eligibility you are now REQUIRED to complete a 24 hour pre-service course before applying to the NJDOE. We DO offer that course as part of our program.
POLICIES FOR ALL P-3 MAR CLASSES
These policies are specific to the P-3 MAR Program.
1) Each professor determines absences and lateness policies.
2) If you know you will be absent, you MUST call, email or otherwise contact the professor prior to the absence.
3) It is the student’s responsibility to find out what work was missed due to the absence, and complete the work.
4) If you know you will be late to class, you MUST alert the instructor or have a classmate let your instructor know. It is your responsibility to make up any missed work. If you are late, go to your assigned classroom and if your class is not there look for a posted note on the door or the whiteboard to let you know where your class has moved. (i.e. library, ADP, outside, etc.)
5) The professor for each class documents grades. The grade you earn in a class is the grade you receive. These classes are considered graduate level classes and the work is on the graduate level.
6) If there is anything that we must talk about in terms of grades, professors, texts, or anything else pertaining to P-3 MAR classes or program, PLEASE speak to Liz Kendall FIRST.
TUITION AND MEETING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
1) Paper tuition bills are not sent to you – you must check your tuition bill on-line under WESS. It is the student’s responsibility to pay the tuition bill. It is also your responsibility to know when you can drop or add classes during the semester, which will impact your tuition. In order to find out what the current tuition and fees are for each semester, please go to the following website:
http://www.montclair.edu/studentaccounts/tuitionandfees/gpercredit.html
TRANSCRIPTS
1) Official transcripts, for the P-# MAR program, are available only from the Registrar’s Office.
2) Letters of Enrollment and Completion Letters are available from the P-3 MAR Office and MUST
BE REQUESTED by calling the P-3 Office and leaving all the necessary information for mailing.
CHANGES OF ADDRESS, TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR JOB STATUS
1) Any changes in the above information must be reported to the P-3 Office immediately. We will not be responsible for information that is incorrect or not updated. If you change your address or telephone number you must also alert the Registrar’s Office immediately
For further information and clarifications please call the P-3 Office @ 973-655-7490.
Paying for P-3 MAR Classes
Please check with the Financial Aid Office for any questions regarding payment plans
As of January 2011 the P-3 MAR Program now accepts FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.
Students who meet Federal requirements can now apply for federal student aid. For information on Montclair State University's deadline to submit your FAFSA please contact the Financial Aid office at (973) 655-4460, College Hall, Room 208 between the hours of 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday with late hours Mondays and Thursdays until 7:00 pm, or email .
http://www.montclair.edu/FinancialAid/
Apply for Federal Student Aid on line at:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
or call
1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
Financial Assistant for P-3 Modified Alternate Route Courses
Sallie Mae Loan
Apply for the Sallie Mae loan on line at:
www.SallieMaeEdTrust.com/sigMontclair
Or Call
800-695-3317
Sallie Mae Tuition Payment Plan
Call: 800-635-0120
tuitionpay.salliemae.com/msu
Please inform the Financial Aid Office that you are taking
P-3 Modified Alternate Route Program
Students MUST have and use their MSU email
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL P-3 STUDENTS
We now have a LIST-SERVE with all student emails who are enrolled in the P-3 MAR program in order for us to keep you posted on any changes, cancellations, news, etc.
If you do not have an MSU email account you may not get any of these emails. To set up and email account go to: Office of Information Technology (OIT) at http://oit.montclair.edu/tsc/helpdesk/studentemail.html
Registration for Courses, Adding and Dropping Courses
Withdrawing from a Course
The P-3 Modified Alternate Route Program staff will NOT register, add, drop or withdraw courses for students. You, as a student, must take the responsibility to do this on your own. You must learn to use the WESS system designed specifically for students to access the information necessary to perform all of the above tasks, and more.
Students can access grades, schedules, tuition bills, etc. by using the WESS system. If you do not have access to a home computer, you may come into our office and we will assist you with the task you need to accomplish. There are also many computer labs on campus for students to use.
*Important: In order for you to use the computer labs, the library, etc. students MUST get a MSU photo I.D. card.
Please check the MSU site for information: www.montclair.edu/studentcenter/idcardoffice.html
REGISTRATION
USING THE WEB ENROLLMENT SERVICE FOR STUDENTS (WESS)
· Go to this website: https//wfs.montclair.edu/ahomepg.htm
· Click on Login to WESS
· The system is accessed using a nine-digit Student ID Number (SID) (Your social security number). The system will then give you a new eight digit Student ID Number. Your Default Personal Pin Number (PIN) is your six-digit birth date i.e. 060600 for June 6, 2000.
o You will be asked to change your pin number
· After successful entry of a valid SID and PIN, click on Registration & Schedule.
· Click on Drop/Add Classes.
· From the drop down menu choose the term you would like to register for.
· Enter Call Number(s) for the appropriate class and then click Submit.
· Again, students are responsible for registration, adding, dropping or withdrawing from classes. Make sure you know the critical dates for adding and dropping and withdrawing. These dates can be found on the Registrar’s website for each term. http://www.montclair.edu/academiccalendar/
The P-3 MAR Program is always here to ASSIST you. However, it is imperative that you know how to navigate your way through the technology MSU utilizes to ensure that you can complete this program successfully.
If you do need an appointment to come to the office to learn how to use the computer to perform the tasks necessary for you to organize your courses, etc., please call and make an appointment with Liz, Nancy, or Kelly at 973-655-6909, 7101, 7490.
YOU MUST SET UP A MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY EMAIL ACCOUNT ONCE YOU ENTER THE PROGRAM.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/montclairstatep3mar
What Classes Do I Need To Take?
Montclair State University offers the following courses approved by the State of New Jersey to meet the needs of the P-3 Modified Alternate Route certification:
· ECEL 506 Introduction to Early Childhood Theory and Practice (1.5 credits) This course satisfies the NJDOE mandate to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. It may be taken alone, or if you are fully accepted in the P-3 MAR program, you should register for ECEL 506 and 507)