Teacher Education Program
Content Verification Form
Frequently Asked Questions
· What is a content verification form?
A content verification form (CVF) is a type of checklist that allows the TEP program to assess the prior content knowledge of apprentice teachers. The content listed on the form meets highly qualified standards for teaching as designated by the United States Department of Education No Child Left Behind (NCLB). This act asserts that a “highly qualified teacher” is one with full certification, a bachelor’s degree, and demonstrated competence in subject knowledge and teaching.
· Why does the Teacher Education Program require a content verification form?
A wide body of international and national research has demonstrated that effective teachers have strong content knowledge in the subject area(s) they teach. The teacher education program is a standards- and research-based program that aligns with best practices in teacher preparation and development. The faculty of the TEP set high expectations for apprentice teachers. Thus, we consider a body of evidence of apprentice teachers’ content knowledge including content tests (PLACE or Praxis) and CVFs.
· What is the benefit of meeting the requirements set in the content verification form?
School district human resources personnel often assess teacher applicants’ content knowledge by reviewing their transcripts to determine highly qualified status in a particular content area or areas. By meeting the requirements set forth in the CVF, the apprentice teacher is deemed to be highly qualified in their content area(s), and this provides an advantage in the hiring process.
· How do I complete the content verification form?
First, collect all transcripts from institutions of higher education (IHE) that you have attended. Second, print out the appropriate CVF form based on the content area/level you plan to teach. The form can be accessed at http://morgridge.du.edu/apply/teacher-education-program-application/. Click on the tab marked Application Checklist and scroll down to Content Verification Form. Third, fill out the CVF form by writing in the appropriate course information (undergraduate courses, graduate courses, and high school Advanced Placement credit accepted by an IHE) in each category listed on the form. If you are unsure, add the course and add a 3-4 sentence explanation on an additional page as to why you believe the course is a good fit in a particular category. Last, submit the CVF form to MCE Academic Services Associate (ASA), Karen Paul-Masaoka at . Please do not submit transcripts to the ASA. The ASA can access your transcript through our database.
· What happens after I submit the CVF form?
An MCE ASA will review your CVF form after you submit it. If the course information and transcript(s) appropriately match the requirements, the ASA will approve the form and the apprentice teacher will be notified that they have completed the content verification requirement. If the ASA is unsure about a course, s/he will contact the Director of Teacher Education for additional support. If the apprentice teacher needs to complete additional courses as provisionals, s/he will be contacted by the ASA.
· What if I do not meet all of the CVF requirements?
In some cases, apprentice teachers need to take 1-2 additional courses as provisional requirements prior to being accepted and starting the TEP. This is a benefit to the apprentice teacher in that they will meet highly qualified standards for teaching, increase their effectiveness as teachers, and experience advantages in the hiring process. If you need to take more than 2 courses, the Director of Teacher Education will assist you in making a decision about moving forward with the program. The apprentice teacher should register for the course(s) (online, hybrid, face-to-face accepted) at an accredited institution, fill out a pre-approval form for the course(s), and submit the form to the ASA. Upon completion, the apprentice teacher will send a transcript to Graduate Studies and notify the ASA that the provisional has been completed with a grade of C or better. All provisionals should be completed prior to the program start.