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Bulletins

Standards Leading to Teacher Certification

Introduction

Students seeking to enter the Teacher Education program at Central Michigan University are screened using multiple criteria related to teacher excellence and the CLEAR model for teacher education. The selection criteria assess characteristics appropriate for students pursuing a professional teaching practice that is Content–or knowledge–driven, LEArner-centered and Reflective/Relevant to the multiple roles and contexts of the professional educator. Once a student is admitted, cognitive and affective skills are both developed and monitored throughout the teacher education experience, which stresses faculty mentoring of all prospective teachers.

Excellent teachers demonstrate an interest in students, an ability to relate to and communicate with diverse students in varied ways, as well as the ability to motivate and facilitate learning. Teacher candidates at CMU must be learner-centered and able to communicate both in writing and in face-to-face interactions with spontaneity and clarity. In addition, students must demonstrate the professional dispositions appropriate to the field of teaching in order to be recommended for certification. Such dispositions include values, commitments, and professional ethics that influence behaviors toward students, families, colleagues, and all members of the learning community and affect student learning, motivation, and development as well as the educator’s own professional growth and development. Only qualified candidates will be recommended for certification. It is important to note any legal charge or conviction may impede a student’s ability to progress through or be admitted to the teacher education program.

 

Admission of Teacher Education Candidacy

Admission of Candidacy to Teacher Education

Students earning an Elementary or Secondary Standard Certificate must submit an application to teacher education. The application for Admission of Candidacy can be found on the CEHS Center for Student Services website (www.ehs.cmich.edu/css) and the requirements of the Michigan Department of Education. Admission to Teacher Education occurs twice a year, once in September and once in February.  Education students must be admitted to Teacher Education to begin their Professional Education Sequence Courses.  Any changes mandated by the Michigan Department Education may become effective at any time during a student’s program.

 
Elementary and Secondary teacher education students must complete all of the requirements for admission to teacher education before beginning their Professional Education Sequence courses. All of the requirements and Professional Education Sequence courses can be found on the CEHS Center for Student Services website. After admission to teacher education students take their Pre-Student Teaching courses, complete field experiences and take methods courses.

Full Admission of Candidacy to Teacher Education

Full admission has been established to verify a candidate’s ongoing growth and development in the CMU Teacher Education program. Requirements can be found on the Center for Student Services website. These must be fulfilled to continue to student teaching. The requirements include, but are not limited to items such as successful completion of pre-student teaching, departmental approvals of all major and or minors and successful completion of all Professional Education coursework.

Exit of Candidacy

On successful completion of the CMU Teacher Education program a student will move on to graduation and then be recommended for Michigan certification. For details on certification requirements consult the Center for Student Services website (www.ehs.cmich.edu/css).

Conflict Resolution and Appeal Procedure

  1. A student who has a complaint regarding teacher certification decisions should make known his or her complaint as soon as possible, but in no case later than thirty days after the end of the semester. Any exception to the time limitation shall be for unusual and most compelling reasons. At each step of the process, the student will be given the opportunity to present relevant information, and the reasons for the decision will be explained to the student.
  2. A student who feels that arbitrary and/or capricious decisions have been made in evaluating admission, or continuing requirements for the teacher education program, or in the recommendation for certification, should meet with the Assistant Director of Professional Education. (CEHS 421 The Center for Student Services)
  3. If the student is still not satisfied, he or she may request in writing a consultation with the Director of Professional Education. In the absence of the Director of Professional Education, the student’s request in writing should be sent to the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services. In such cases, the Dean shall act in place of the Director.
  4. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Director of Professional Education, the student may submit an appeal in writing to the Professional Education Selection, Admission and Retention Committee. The Professional Education Selection, Admission and Retention Committee has the authority to overrule decisions made by the Director of Professional Education regarding admission or continuing requirements for the teacher education program or in the recommendation for certification. Appeal decisions made by the Professional Education Selection, Admission and Retention Committee are final.

Teacher Certification

For this process, please contact the Assistant Director of Professional Education in CEHS 421.

Postbaccalaureate Students

A postbaccalaureate student is defined as a student with a non-teaching bachelor’s degree from a four-year regionally accredited institution who is seeking teacher certification, a student with a teaching degree who is seeking teacher certification and/or endorsement in an additional area, or a student with a teaching degree who is seeking standard or professional certification and/or endorsement in an additional area.

Standard Teacher Certification for non-degree seeking Postbaccalaureate Students

  1. Postbaccalaureate students must follow the “Standards Leading to Teacher Certification” as published in the Bulletin and meet Michigan Department of Education requirements.
  2. Postbaccalaureate students must have majors and/or minors signed by a department advisor in the department offering the major or minor. The request for the declared major/minor will be initiated by the staff in the EHS Center for Student Services (989-774-3309). Certification will be recommended for those teaching areas in which CMU presently offers a major or minor. Course substitutions may be approved only by the department advisor.
  3. Postbaccalaureate students must complete all Professional Education courses and other degree/certification requirements for either elementary or secondary students as published in the Bulletin.
  4. The Teacher Education and Professional Development Department (TEPD) will submit a list of the names of all students applying for student teaching the following semester to each student’s major and minor department for approval or denial.
  5. The EHS Center for Student Services will audit the BSEd degree of all students to certify that candidates have met all the requirements before confirming them for certification.

Validity of a Standard Teaching Certificate

 (Visit the Michigan Department of Education website, Certification Guidance page for links to the most up-to-date documents and resources – a hyperlink to this page is also available under “Certification Help:” on the MOECS Login page)

The Standard Teaching Certificate is a five-year teaching certificate with unlimited renewals. Each renewal adds five years to the certificate’s validity. A renewal can be requested any time after January 1 of the expiration year, provided the applicant completes the Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal Requirements as described under the heading “Requirements for a Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal” listed below.

Elementary: A certificate with elementary endorsement issued after September 1, 1988, is valid for teaching all disciplines grades K-5, all disciplines grades K-8 in a self-contained classroom, and the discipline area(s) as listed on the certificate, in grades K-8.

Secondary: A certificate with secondary endorsement issued after September 1, 1988, is valid for teaching discipline area(s), as listed on the certificate, in grades 6 – 12.

Requirements for a Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal

Requirements: (One of the following)

  • 150 hours of education-related professional learning.
  • An education-related masters or higher degree earned at any time from a regionally accredited college or university (may be used one time to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate).
  • A valid out-of-state teaching certificate (may be used one time to renew the Standard Teaching Certificate).

Education-Related Professional Learning Options:

One of the following education-related professional learning options must be earned since the issue date of the most recent Standard Teaching Certificate or renewal, and they must be entered into the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) prior to applying for the renewal for the system to recognize your eligibility:

  • 6 semester hours in a planned course of study** from a regionally accredited college or university; or
  • 150 Michigan State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate and endorsement; or
  • 150 hours of Michigan District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) appropriate to the content and grade level of the certificate and endorsement.
  • Any combination of the above.

Education-Related Professional Learning Hour Conversion:

  • College credit: 1 semester credit = 25 professional learning hours
  • SCHECH Hours: 1 SCECH hour – 1 professional learning hour
  • DPPD Hours: 1 DPPD hour = 1 professional learning hour

**Credits in a planned course of study may include credits taken as part of an education-related master’s or higher degree or credits in a program that leads to an endorsement.

Requirements and procedures for a Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal, Progressing to a Professional Teaching Certificate, and Renewal of a Professional Teaching Certificate can be accessed from the Michigan Department of Education’s Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) webpage under the Certification Help: Certification Guidance Documents link.

Certificate Application and Renewal Fees

Michigan Compiled Law (MCL 380.1538) authorizes the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to collect fees for Educator Permit, Authorization, Endorsement, and License Applications and Renewals. The fees do not cover the issuance of a certificate, certificate printing, endorsement or authorization, but rather support the staff who evaluate applications, process paperwork, and provide guidance, technical assistance and support to educators daily. The legislated fees also provide for technological support and regular maintenance to the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).

The document “Certification Fees” can be accessed from the Michigan Department of Education’s Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) webpage under the Certification Help: Certification Guidance Documents link.