Advancing through a Teacher Education Program at NVU

1. Advancement through an NVU Teacher Education Program requires attending all five Teacher Education Workshops (EDU TEW1 , EDU TEW2 , EDU TEW3 , EDU TEW4  and EDU TEW5 ). These are one-time meetings held each semester in multiple sections. Each workshop provides guidance on completing the next set of requirements for the program. Students who do not meet these benchmark requirements will not be permitted to proceed in the program.
2. Students must earn a B- or better in all courses with an EDU designator. Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a 3.0 GPA in their Unified Arts or Secondary Education major or the Childhood Education Liberal Arts & Sciences concentration, and a passing score on the PRAXIS II examination before applying for student teaching.
3. Students in all NVU Teacher Education Programs complete numerous fieldwork assignments, which take place during typical public school hours (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). Students are expected to arrange their own transportation to fieldwork sites.
4. Students seeking endorsement for licensure from NVU must submit a complete Level I Licensure Portfolio (see below), ready for scoring, by the due date established within the student teaching semester.

The Level I Licensure Portfolio

The Level I Portfolio is used to assess a candidate’s readiness to apply for a Level I Professional Educator’s License from the Vermont Agency of Education.

Portfolios must be constructed in accordance with the current guidelines established by the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators; refer to the NVU Portfolio Handbook for details. Portfolios that do not meet guidelines will not be accepted for review.

Portfolios must achieve passing scores from two reviewers: a faculty member and a member of the NVU Board of Reviewers. Note: In some cases, reviewers may request revisions, giving the student an opportunity for a second review.  While the review process typically takes a few weeks, it can last many months to a year if a portfolio requires revision. Students may be required to enroll in a credit-bearing tutorial session to complete or revise a portfolio.

Students may apply for a limited extension in submitting their portfolio due to unexpected circumstances, but requests must be made during the student teaching semester.
 

5. Students will participate in three interviews spread throughout the program: an entry interview, a midway interview and an exit Interview. These interviews help assess readiness as students progress through their teacher education program.
    
6. In order to earn a recommendation for licensure from Northern Vermont University, students must meet all applicable requirements for licensure in place at the time of the recommendation. If the requirements for licensure established by the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators, the Vermont Agency of Education or the U.S. Department of Education change over the span of a student’s enrollment, the student must consult with his or her Program Director to determine whether the changes apply and, if so, how best to meet the new requirements.