University of Wisonsin-Whitewater

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Curriculum Proposal Form #6

Other Curricular Action

Effective Term:{Select from drop down box}2120 (Winterim 2012)2121 (Spring 2012)2123 (Summer 2012)2127 (Fall 2012)2130 (Winterim 2013)2131 (Spring 2013)2133 (Summer 2013)2137 (Fall 2013)

Description of Action:Technically we believe that this would be a "new licensure program" request. This proposal would extend our existing cooperative "gifted teacher" licensure program (online hybrid in cooperation with UW-Stevens Point, where UWSP is the endorsing institution), to add a "gifted coordinator" licensure program, effectively consisting of one additional course, where UWW would be the endorsing institution. The license codes from DPI are 014 (subject code for Gifted and Talented) and 64 (position code for Program Coordinator), so we believe that the license would be "64-014 - Program Coordinator: Gifted and Talented."

Sponsor(s): Pamela R. Clinkenbeard and Scott J. Peters

Department(s): Educational Foundations

College(s):{Select from drop down box}Arts and CommunicationBusiness and EconomicsEducationLetters and SciencesGrad Studies and Cont EdInterdisciplinary

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Proposal Information:

(Procedures for form #6)

Proposal:

There are two licenses related to gifted education on the books in PI 34: a Supplementary license in “Gifted and Talented” intended as an add-on to any teaching license, and a Program Coordinator license in “Gifted and Talented” which would also beavailable to pupil services professionals (e.g., school psychologists). At present, we cooperate with UW-Stevens Point to offer theonly "gifted teacher" licensure program in Wisconsin (online hybrid, where UWSP is the endorsing institution). We offer two of the required courses (EDFOUND 781 and 782 and occasional undergraduate versions of them run through Continuing Ed) for the four-course licensure program.

We propose to add a "gifted coordinator" licensure program, effectively consisting of one additional course, where UWW would be the endorsing institution. There are at present no programs in WI that lead to this license. Technically we believe that this would be a "new licensure program" request. The license codes from DPI are 014 (subject code for Gifted and Talented) and 64 (position code for Program Coordinator), so we believe that the license would be a "64-014 - Program Coordinator: Gifted and Talented." (We have contacted DPI to confirm and are in the process of developing our “new licensure program request” to be sent to DPI.)

In order to obtain the new license, students would need to take the three 3-unit core courses for the gifted teacher license as a prerequisite to the 3-unit “coordinator course.” We have been approved for a pilot of this course in summer 2012, EDFOUND 490/690 Workshop – Coordinating Gifted and Talented Education. It has the required practicum experience built into the course and is fairly individualized: educators design a district-based project that is tied to the seven administrator standards and the national gifted education programming standards (see draft syllabus, attached). All of the UWW courses are offered as variable credit, so that students more easily can be credited for prior experience (DPI will not “grandfather” in experienced gifted ed teachers or coordinators for either license, and there are many of these experienced educators in the state).

See website more detail on the program – below is a comparison of the path to be taken for each license. Students would take 12 units (or their equivalent) for either license; in order to get both licenses, the total would be 15 units (or their equivalent).

Core courses for both licenses

Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education (UWW & UWSP)

Psychological Issues in Gifted Education (UWW)

Curriculum Methods for Teaching Students with Gifts and Talents (UWSP)

For GT teacher license (UWSP endorses)For GT Coordinator license (UWW would endorse)

Practicum in Teaching Students withCoordinating Gifted and Talented Education (with

Gifts and Talents (UWSP)embedded practicum experience – UWW)

Justification:

Although this license has been on the books for several years, there has not been a program in Wisconsin to lead to it. We have received many requests for a way to get this license in addition to (or instead of) the gifted teacher license. A needs assessment conducted in 2009 by the program originators indicated that districts felt a strong need for professional development in the area of challenging advanced learners and otherwise programming for gifted education, especially within regular education programs and initiatives (diverse and English Language Learners, RtI, Common Core, etc.). Our coursework and our conferences (e.g. first annual Challenging Advanced Learners Academy, June 18-20, 2012, are based on this expressed need.

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