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Fall 2017

Orientation for Undergraduate (UG) and Graduate (G)

Teacher Education (TE) Candidates

Secondary Education (SEC)

Fall 2017

Dear Secondary Teacher Education Candidates,

This document includes information for undergraduate and graduate students (both MA and Graduate Teacher Certification Programs [GTCP]). If you have any questions, please contact

Dr. Liliana Maggioni

Coordinator of Secondary English and Social Studies Education Programs

Director of Teacher Education

202-319-4481

maggioni.cua.edu

In this document you will find information on

  1. Admission to Teacher Education
  2. PRAXISCORE Tests
  3. Field Experiences: Practica and Student Teaching
  4. PRAXIS II Content Test and Pedagogy Test (Prior and During Student Teaching)
  5. Getting Ready for Program Completion
  6. General Policies in Teacher Education
  7. Additional Information
  1. Admission to Teacher Education
  1. Deadline for submitting all required information is April 1 of your sophomore second (spring) semester. At this time, you will decide if you want to apply for the BA in Secondary Education or for the 4+1 (BA or BS in your discipline and MA in Secondary Education).
  2. Please purchase a LiveText account at The Standard Edition is the simple version, and the Learn360 Edition includes a vast array of video clips for your lesson plans. (Do NOT purchase the Field Experience Edition).Please indicate CUA as your institution.
  3. As part of the application process, fill out the following forms in Livetext (the Office of Teacher Education will send you the URLsin January):
  4. Teacher Education Application Form
  5. Candidate Profile Form
  6. Disposition Survey (candidate form)
  7. Technology Survey

These forms are not graded; we simply would like to know a little more about you, your knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

  1. Recommendation letters (Reference Form) will be provided by your professors. All sophomore level education professors (in EDUC 251 and EDUC 271) will automatically submit their recommendations for you in LiveText.
  • SEC candidates must ask an A&S professor in their discipline (English, History or Math) to complete a recommendation form for them. If your A&S professor agrees, obtain his/her name and E-mail address and give the contact info tothe Office of Teacher Education (Ms. Darby, ), who will sendthe professor the URL for the recommendation in LiveText.
  • GPA:Cumulative GPA (3.0), content GPA (3.0). If you apply for the 4+1, you will need a Cumulative GPA of 3.5.
  • Passing scores on Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) (Reading, Writing, Math) or alternative GRE, SAT or ACT passing scores + CORE or GRE Writing
  • Take EDUC 251 and EDUC 271. Check with your advisor about order preferences.
  1. CORE Tests (Formerly known as PRAXIS I)

Test Required for All Licensure/Credential Areas

Beginning teachers in all content areas much pass all three Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests (i.e., reading, writing, and math) or have qualifying scores on their SAT, ACT, or GRE tests.

If you wish to take all three computer-delivered Core exams (5712, 5722, 5732) at the same time select Core Academic Skills for Educators Combined Test (5751) when registering. Scores will be reported for individual tests (i.e., 5712, 5722, 5732).

Minimum Required Scores

STUDY FOR YOUR CORE/PRAXIS TEST(s)! You may use Khan Academy (free tutoring on the internet at if you need to refresh your math skills.

Useful Links:

DC Test Requirements:

DC Requirement for licensure:

How to Take Praxis CORE:

Create an account at and sign up for your CORE tests there.

The ETS website ( includes all necessary information on taking the CORE tests. Just click on Praxis™Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) Tests. You can click on the tests, e.g., CORE Writing and then on the Study Companion PDF file, and can find information on the numbers of questions, material and concepts covered, and types of questions.

  1. Take yourCORE test(s) in December, January or early February the latest.
  2. Computer-Based Testing (CBT) allows you to see your scores in CORE Reading and Math right away. It takes six weeks to obtain the score from the writing test that is hand-scored.
  3. Make sure you markCUA as one of the recipients of your scores because both need to get your official score report from ETS directly. Make DCPS or OSSE recipients of your scores, too.
  4. If you need special accommodations for the CORE tests, please request those accommodations four weeks prior to registering for the tests.
  5. When your scores are delivered to you (either hard or electronic copies), please save your scores on your computer immediately. I would recommend scanning in the hard copy, so that it can be uploaded or e-mailed, when needed. The digital copy also needs to be saved from your ETS account to your computer, since it will be available on the internet only for a limited time. You will be responsible to upload a pdf with your scores when you apply for the teaching credentials.
  1. Field Experiences: PracticaStudent Teaching

Field Placements: Candidates are required to complete field experiences in varied settings. Candidates are placed in various schools that are public, private, parochial, or charter and various grade levels in their program of studies. Placements are designed to provide candidates with the greatest variety of experiences and are arranged based on the decisions of faculty.

Please remember to complete the Field Experience Diversity Form within the first 2/3 weeks of your work in the field. Ms. Darby will remind you and send you the Livetext link. Answer promptly.

Practicum Experiences

  • Practicum placements take place in middle schools and high schools (Grades 7-12). These placements include diverse learning environments.
  • Practicum experiences are associated with the following courses:
  • EDUC 386 (20 hours); register also for EDUC 387 – Fall Junior year
  • EDUC 382 (20 hours); register also for EDUC 382 – Spring Junior year
  • EDUC 479, EDUC 480; EDUC 485 (30 hours); register also for EDUC478 – Fall Senior year
  • Contact the instructor of your coursebefore being absent from practicum.All missed hours must be made up.
  • Document your hours in the field (sign attendance sheet).
  • Background check: different schools require different kinds of background checks. Ms. Neely will include information about how to complete the specific background checks for your school when she let you know your specific placement for the semester. Some information is also included in this document. You may also want to contact the school directly and double check with them, so that you can start your field experience, promptly. Keep in mind, though, that the academic calendar of K-12 schools differs from CUA calendar.

Student Teaching (ST)

  • The Student Teaching Application is available in LiveText. Let the office of Teacher Education (Ms. Darby, ) know that you are planning to ST so that the URL for the application form can be sent to you.
  • Deadline for submitting your application for student teaching: First week of semester prior to student teaching (e.g., first week of Septemberfor student teaching in the spring). You MUST take the PRAXIS II content (not pedagogy) test before student teaching. The results need to be received by the Teacher Education Office before you start the student teaching semester. Plan ahead!
  • Before student teaching you will need:
  • TB test
  • Background check
  • PRAXIS II content test
  • ST-ingcourse numbers for secondary education candidates:

Undergraduate
EDUC 461, 462, 463; EDUC 400 (specific section assigned)
EDUC 498 (Education Comprehensive Examination)
ENG 498 or MATH 498 or HIST 498 (Undergraduate Comprehensive Examination) – depending on your secondary teacher education major / Graduate
EDUC 561, 562, 563 (for candidates who are not teachers of record); EDUC 500 (specific section assigned)
EDUC 600 (for candidates currently employed)
Graduate comps (Ms. Mammo will send out a message regarding the number.)
  • Contact your cooperating teacher and your supervisor before being absent from student teaching. All missed days must be made up.

Security Clearance:Below are some general instructions for clearing security at the schools to which you are assigned. Keep in contact with Ms. Neely, since some schools may implement specific policies.

Catholic Schools:

Go to the ADW website and select Protecting Our Children. You may then complete the applications for child protection training, fingerprinting schedule, volunteer application, and complete volunteer checklist. You must have results of your current TB test, which health services will provide, and some form of picture ID, passport, social security card, driver’s license, or birth certificate. Once you have submitted all of this information, you must call the school to which you are assigned and ask to speak to the child protection coordinator, who will assign you a Virtus number. Once you view the video and complete the application, you have 60 days to clear security, and you can work in the school until that time.

District of Columbia Public Schools:

You willneed to complete the application included below. Once submitted, you must go to DCPS Central Office to get fingerprinted, 1200 First Street, N. E. Go to the tenth floor, bring a state issue picture ID, social security card, and a TB test that has been completed within the last 12months.Once youclear fingerprinting, you will receive an email letter stating that you can begin student teaching. The process can take from 3-10 days to clear.

If you have any questions about security, please contactElsie T. Neely – 202-436-0233. Additional information can also be found on the website above.

  1. PRAXIS II Content and Pedagogy Tests

(prior to and during Student Teaching)

The PRAXIS IIcontent test needs to be taken at least two months before the student teaching semester begins (no later than November for spring student teaching), and the PRAXIS II pedagogy test should be taken two months prior to applying for a license (in March of your student teaching semester if you want to apply for a license right after graduation).

You MUST take (not necessarily pass) the PRAXIS II content (not pedagogy) test before student teaching. Check the ETS website at for the appropriate number of the PRAXIS II content vs. pedagogy tests. Do not confuse the 2 numbers please.

In order to get a license, candidates must pass (not only take) their PRAXIS II tests (both content and pedagogy).

*Please note that if you are asked for a license at an interview before you obtain your DC license, the Director of Teacher Education can write a college completion verification letter on letterhead stating that you are eligible for a license upon completion of all your program and licensure requirements.

  • DC Test Requirements: Secondary Education)
  • Licenses can be obtained in additional subject areas as long as the required PRAXIS II content and pedagogy tests are passed.You will be able to apply for these additional licenses at any time, once you get your online account with ECIS (a fee will be applied).

Continue using the account you created at you took your Praxis CORE tests and sign up for your PRAXIS II tests there.

If you need special accommodations for the PRAXIS tests, you need to request those accommodations four weeks prior to registering for the tests.

Make sure you mark CUA and OSSE (District of Columbia) as one of the recipients of your scores.

When your scores are delivered to you (either hard or electronic copies), please save your scores on your computer immediately. (I would recommend scanning in the hard copy so that it can be E-mailed. The digital copy needs to be saved from your ETS account also as it is available on the internet only for 45 days.). You will need to upload a pdf with your passing scores when applying for the teaching credential.

Content Area Knowledge and Principles of Learning and Teaching Tests

Helpful material to prepare for the tests can be found by clicking on the individual tests (

  1. Getting Ready for Program Completion
  1. Juniors: Please schedule an appointment for your junior audit
  2. Please check CUA E-mail account regularly (or forward your CUA mail to your preferred non-CUA E-mail address).
  3. Information about student teaching and licensure is provided at the student teaching orientation.
  4. If you planning to teach out of D.C., you may want to explore the licensure requirements of the specific state while you are still at CUA. Specific information about reciprocity and requirements of specific states can be found at and at
  5. Information for graduate students regarding the comprehensive exam (Action Research Paper), research papers, and other pertinent information will come from the Chair's officeand the academic advisors.
  6. Master’s candidates only: Comprehensive (Action Research Paper) & Research papers
  • Comps: Action Research Paper in student teaching semester
  • Research Papers (submitted a semester prior to taking comps)
  • EDUC 699
  • EDUC 702
  1. General Policies in Teacher Education
  1. Disability Support Services – Policy for Candidates Registering for Field Experiences

If you are a teacher education candidate (in early childhood, elementary, secondary or special education) and have a disability, we encourage you to inform Dr. Liliana Maggioni, Director of Teacher Education () or Ms. Elsie Neely, Director of Field Experiences () of your disability so that we can best help you in terms of accommodations that you may need for your field experience. We further encourage you to coordinate with the office of Disability Support Services to ensure you obtain support for completing the program. If you choose not to reveal this information, understand that there are consequences for that decision. Accommodations are not retroactive. Please visit the DSS website at for additional information.

  1. Educational Record Release: We can discuss your educational progress with your parents only if you give us permission to do so. If you want to give permission, please do the following:
  2. Obtain the Education Record Release Form at and
  3. Submit the completed form to the Registrar’s office.
  4. Unit Assessment System: We constantly monitor candidate programs. The Unit Assessment Handbook can be located at (Handbooks/Orientation/Forms Tab)
  5. Candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPAto be admitted and continue in Teacher Education.
  6. SEC: 3.0 GPA both cumulative and discipline/subject matter
  7. Undergraduates: Retake course below C- (licensure requirement) - Talk to your advisor before retaking any course. (You don’t need to retake the same course to fulfill a particular distribution requirement. You do, however, need to take a course that is listed in the slot detail for the particular requirement on the tracking sheet.)
  8. Graduates: Retake courses below C.
  9. Only oneprovisional and oneprobationary semester can be given to candidates!
  10. Appeal process for (1) decisions in the Unit Assessment System (if e.g., someone is denied admission to or continuance in TE) and (2) dispositional concerns
  11. Key assessments:All required course assignments must be submitted in LiveText in order to continue in the teacher education program.
  12. Absenteeism: Please refer to CUA's policy regarding absenteeism:
  13. Academic Dishonesty: CUA's Policy on Student Academic Dishonesty can be located at the following URL: is all candidates' responsibility to become familiar with this policy.
  14. Additional CUA policies for undergraduates:
  15. See also and CUA Advising Handbook( for other policies.
  16. University Graduate Announcements:
  1. Additional Information
  1. CUA’s professional education unit has been accredited by NCATE/CAEP since 1975, and all programs are state approved.
  2. All important documents (Conceptual Framework [documents, videos], Unit Assessment System) are uploaded at the following website:
  3. Study Abroad
  4. If you are interested in studying abroad, meet with Dr. Maggioni for more information. Sophomore year is the recommended time to study abroad (summers are another option)
  5. SEC candidates need to see their teacher education program coordinator and the content advisor for advisement.
  6. You may want to consider minors, Speech Communication and Public Speaking, etc.
  7. Keep in touch with your instructors and advisors.
  8. Be mindful of the impact of personal photos/videos on internet
  9. Be aware and take advantage of CUA resources for academic and emotional support

I verify that I have attended the orientation meeting and received all TE materials. I understand that if I have any questions, I can contact my advisor, Dr. Convey () orDr. Liliana Maggioni ().

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Signature of Teacher Education CandidateDate