Education

Return to: General Education and Degree Program Information

Tara Fortner, Assistant Professor
Eden Haywood-Bird, Assistant Professor
Ai Kamei, Assistant Professor

Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies for Inclusive Teaching:

• Non-Licensure

• Elementary Education (K-6) Licensure

• Early Childhood Education (Age 3 - Grade 3) Licensure

• Special Education - Special Educator (K-8) Licensure

Associate of Science in Special Education

Mission Statement

Centered on the belief that “Teaching is Learning,” The Lyndon State College Department of Education prepares students for careers as effective teachers or paraeducators through extensive and carefully coordinated college coursework and field-based experiences.

Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies for Inclusive Teaching

Program Goals

The Education Department program will:

• prepare students to meet the competencies defined by the Vermont State Board of Education
• increase students’ content competencies through the completion of coursework in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
• prepare students for teaching through extensive field-based experience in teaching and classroom work
• prepare students for teaching all learners in inclusive classrooms

Vermont Educator Licensure Program

To prepare students to meet licensure requirements defined by the Vermont State Board of Education, competencies for every licensure area in our program have been formulated based on qualitative analysis of the Standards for Vermont Educators and the Regulations Governing the Licensing of Educators and the Preparation of Educational Professionals. These program competencies relate directly to appropriate state and national standards. Development and documentation of competencies by students is facilitated by an advisor who is a specialist in a particular field.

Assessment of goals takes place through portfolio development and review at both Junior and Senior levels. Attainment of all competencies must be documented with evidence presented in the portfolios. The variety of field placements allow students to use practicing teachers in addition to college supervisors as resources for competency development. The consequent combination of campus based course requirements and portfolio development activities results in an in-depth assessment of both knowledge and skills. Nationally established standardized testing is also used as entrance and exit assessments of basic academic skills and content knowledge.

Program Description

Program Approval

Lyndon’s teacher preparation programs are approved by the Vermont State Board of Education. Graduates who are recommended by the College must apply to the State Department of Education for their teaching license. Currently, Vermont teaching licenses are accepted by many states in the U.S.

The Major Programs

1. Non-Licensure Concentration: The core program plus student teaching and the completion of a liberal studies thesis. Students completing this concentration are not eligible for licensure in the state of VT.
2. Elementary Education: The core program plus 15 weeks of student teaching in an elementary classroom and approval of a final portfolio allow students to become licensed to teach in the elementary (K-6) classroom.
3. Early Childhood: The core program plus thirteen additional coursework credits, 15 weeks of student teaching in grades K-3, and approval of a final portfolio allow a student to qualify for the Early Childhood License (Age 3- Grade 3).
4. Special Education: The core program plus thirteen additional coursework credits, 15 weeks of student teaching in special education, and approval of a final portfolio allow students to be licensed as a Special Educator (K-8).
5. Elementary/Special Education Dual Licensure: The core program plus thirteen coursework credits, 7 weeks of student teaching in an elementary classroom, 7 weeks of student teaching in special education, and approval of a final portfolio allow students to be licensed as a Special Educator (K-8).

Acceptance to the Elementary Education Major

Students apply to their major during the second semester of their sophomore year. Transfer students are to consult with their advisor. In order to be accepted to the Elementary Education major, students must:

• earn a C – or better in EDU 2210 EDU 2840 and EDU 3020 (or transfer equivalent)
• demonstrate competence in college level reading and mathematics
• earn a 2.50 GPA overall and 2.75 in the Education major
• pass the Praxis Core standardized test

Eligibility for Fieldwork Apprenticeship

Students must take EDU 3315 concurrently with this fieldwork. Departmental permission required if all required courses are not yet successfully or timely completed. In order to be eligible for a fieldwork apprenticeship students must:

• earn a C- or better in EDU 2120, EDU 2210, EDU 2270, EDU 2840 EDU 3020, EDU 3325, EDU 3350, EDU 3510, EDU 3520, EDU 3530, EDU 3540, EDU 3550, and EDU 3560 (or transfer equivalent)
• pass the Praxis Core standardized test
• have an overall GPA of 2.70

Eligibility for Student Teaching

Students must pass a course in First Aid and complete the Criminal Records check before they student teach. In order to be eligible to student teach, students must:

• obtain departmental permission
• pass the Praxis Core and Praxis II standardized tests*
• make acceptable progress towards “Satisfactory” on the Professional Attributes and Disposition Assessment
• complete a minimum of 90 hours of college work with a 3.0 GPA both overall and in the Education major—or, in extraordinary circumstances, demonstrated intellectual competence as certified by the Dean of Academic Affairs

* Students who are not seeking licensure in VT are not required to pass Praxis II.

Completion of Student Teaching

In order to be recommended for licensure as a Vermont Educator, student teachers must:

• earn a grade of B or better in EDU 4811 and/or EDU 4880
• earn a minimum ranking of “Satisfactory” on the Professional Attributes and Disposition Assessment
• receive a positive evaluation and recommendation from their college supervisors

Teacher Testing

All Students must comply with current State of Vermont and Lyndon State College regulations regarding Praxis testing for licensure:

1. Passing scores for Praxis Core must be on file at the college prior to the first of November before registering for Teaching Apprenticeship.

2. Passing scores for Praxis II must be on file at the college prior to November 1st for registering for student teaching in the Spring semester and prior to April 1st for registering for student teaching in the Fall semester*.

* Students who are not seeking licensure in VT are not required to pass Praxis II.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies for Inclusive Teaching will:

• demonstrate mastery of the basic academic skills of reading, writing, computing
• demonstrate mastery of content knowledge that is taught at the elementary school level
• demonstrate appropriate attributes and dispositions necessary to teach successfully
• demonstrate mastery of instruction
• demonstrate mastery of classroom management
• be recommended for licensure as a Vermont Educator, or obtain licensure as an educator in another state
• be employed as a professional educator

Assessing Learning Outcomes

The Education Department uses the following measures to assess and ensure student learning outcomes for the Elementary Education program. All students will

1) pass the Praxis Core standardized test and;

2) earn positive evaluations on attributes and dispositions from fieldwork supervisors, EDU 3810: Fieldwork Apprenticeship and EDU 4811: Teaching Elementary Education or EDU 4880: Teaching Special Education; and

3) earn positive student teaching evaluations from fieldwork supervisors, EDU 3810: Fieldwork Apprenticeship and EDU 4811: Teaching Elementary Education or EDU 4880: Teaching Special Education.

4) pass the Praxis II standardized test*.

* Students who are not seeking licensure in VT are not required to pass Praxis II.

Additionally, either the Education Department must approve students’ Vermont Educator e-portfolios and submit a recommendation for licensure to the State Agency of Education, or the graduate obtains licensure as a professional educator in another state. Finally, the department surveys graduates to determine where and when they have secured employment as professional educators.

Associate of Science in Special Education Paraeducator

Program Goals

The Special Education Paraeducator program prepares students to assist teachers through a combination of college coursework and field-based experiences.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who earn an Associate in Special Education will:

• demonstrate mastery of the basic academic skills of reading, writing, computing
• demonstrate mastery of assisting in instruction
• demonstrate mastery of assisting in classroom management
• demonstrate appropriate attributes and dispositions necessary to teach successfully
• be employed as a paraeducator (paraprofessional)

Assessing Student Learning Outcomes

The Education Department uses the following measures to assess and ensure student learning outcomes for the Special Education Paraeducator program. All students must meet all Associate’s degree graduation standards.

Successful students will also

1) earn a positive student teaching evaluation from their fieldwork supervisors, EDU 2840: Exploratory Field Experience and EDU 2855: Practicum for Paraeducators and

2) earns positive student teaching evaluations from their fieldwork supervisors, EDU 2840: Exploratory Field Experience and EDU 2855: Practicum for Paraeducators.

Additionally, students will earn positive evaluations on attributes and dispositions from their fieldwork supervisors. Finally, the department surveys graduates to determine where and when they have secured employment as paraeducators.

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