Professional Education Committee

Minutes

September 23, 2008

Voting Members Present: Michael Maher, Glenn Carrozza, Toby Brody, Jeff Reaser, John Lee, Beth Wilson, Carl Young , Crystal Scillitani, Sarah Carrier, Jim Haynie

Ex officio Members: Michael Maher, Michael Clinkscales

Michael called the meeting to order at 1:10 pm.

Minutes for April 8, 2008 were approved, motion by Carl Young, seconded by Sarah Carrier.

Old Business

Field Experience Diversity Document –

  • Ethnic describers are based on the current Wake County categories.
  • Crystal reported problems with getting information from principals at the Elementary level.The CED is required to track the diversity of placements for student teachers per NCATE standards. Elementary principals can be invited to OPE principals’ meeting to address concerns. The form asks for information about make–up of classroom, can get school information from NC WISE, it does not ask for specific student information.
  • Currently, we are collecting these documents for student teachers only, hope to start collecting this information for all field experiences.

New Business

Gateways and program progression

Ethics Panel & Criminal Record Checks

Re-Visioning updates (if needed)

Higher Education Opportunity Act (highlights that impact programs)

Constitutional Charge (see attached document)

  • Michael reported that we want to update the committee, not change the charge. The committee is constitutionally-defined. Michael has reworked the PEC section of the constitution that describes the committee, discussed the changes that applied to current make up of college, refined some terms and identified vacant seats.
  • Michael asked Carl Young to talk to Ellen Vasu about the vacant C&I spot.
  • In addition to program representation, there will be a graduate and undergraduate appointments. The undergraduate representative is the President of the Education Council.
  • Michael asked for nominations for Graduate Student, requested that the student be in teacher education.
  • It was also suggested that Brad Wingo be asked to serve on the committee as the Advising Center representative in an ex-officio capacity.
  • Michael will work with Jim Haynie to get the committee updated.

Gateways in program progression

  • Some students have been allowed to take Methods courses who have not been admitted to candidacy. Most of these students have not taken or passed the PRAXIS. The state policy requires that students be admitted to teacher candidacy one full year before student teaching. Currently, according to NC State’s interpretation students have to be admitted to candidacy by the 5th day of the semester prior to student teaching.
  • Michael asked that all program coordinators check the progress of their students and require them to be admitted before entering a methods course.
  • A recommendation was made to discussmoving the semester hour threshold to 48 hours. PEC can consider a proposal.

Ethics panel and Criminal Record Checks

  • OPE will be hosting Student Teaching sessions October 28 and 29; attendance is mandatory. Glenn Carrozza and Michael Maher will be presenting information about the Criminal Background Check forms and Health forms.
  • Wake County policy is to look at CRC on a case by case basis at the student teaching level. Also, NC DPI Licensure looks at CRC on a case by case basis. Currently, there only two questions about criminal background on the licensure application. DPI is developing a new questionnaire that is 3-4 pages long. OPE will use the licensure piece as the CRC release statement. The Triangle Alliance is being reworked to eliminate duplicate questions. One form is currently sent to Cooperating teacher and the other form goes to WCPSS. We are going to send the one form directly to cooperating teacher.
  • We will be requesting a Criminal Background Check when the student is Admitted to Candidacy and again before the student teacher placement is confirmed. Criminal Background Checks have tobe completed within 30 days of placement to ensure current records. We want to use the same company for both checks. We are looking at several options, either US info group or Certiphi Screening, Inc. Glenn Carrozza said that Wake County could possibly use the group that NCSU prefers.
  • Office of Professional Education will establish an Ethics panel. Michael will send out the proposal. Will look for volunteers to serve on the committee. Committee will consists of three people to review any CRC issues or other ethical issues on an as needed basis.
  • There was a discussion of piercings and tattoos, dress, professional behavior. OPE will defer to principals on the issue of dress, piercing, and tattoos; the school community dictates how the teachers’ dress. Wake county policy is case by case. Student teacher is a guest in the school and always need to dress on the more conservative side. College programs need to stress the professional attire and behavior for student teachers.

Higher Education Opportunity Act – reauthorized

  • Michael discussed changes to the Higher Education ACT now HEOA which requires reporting goals, assurances, target enrollments, activities, pass rate and scales scores. For Elementary Education students, PRAXIS scores will be reported only if they have completed the program, do not have to report PRAXIS scores of a student who does not take complete program. Program descriptions include the use of technology and preparation of candidates to work with students with special needs.

Revisioning

  • Training sessions are October 3, 8, and 13.
  • Standard 3 – programs are required to have 24 hours in content, only one methods course can be counted and must identify those courses. At least 24 hours of content courses must be passed with a C or better. Praxis II may be used in lieu of the 24 hour requirement.

Field Placements

  • Principals have asked for one point of contact in the College for field experience placements at all levels. The OPE is recommending that all placements be sent through Bonita Apperson.Programs can send Bonita list of 200 and 300 level assignments in addition to student teaching requests.

Adjorned at 2:30pm