The program design is strongly influenced by practitioners, KSDE elementary education program standards, InTASC professional education standards, and other groups whose standards are designed to improve the quality of teacher education programs. In addition, this program is designed not to fit the traditional multi-year progression typically developed for preparing teachers. Instead, the teacher education faculty asked that the program be designed as an innovative program as stipulated by KSDE. To that end, this program is designed to meet the elementary education regulatory expectations within Kansas as well as be responsive to adult learners. The target adult learner groups identified by Eduventures for this program are career changers. Consequently, the program is designed at the bachelor’s level to facilitate adult students who have approximately 30 hours to complete a bachelor’s degree or already hold the bachelor’s degree. Operationalizing the program at the bachelor’s level contributes to cost-effectiveness.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the requirements stated under the College of Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions Policy, the requirements for admission to Bachelors in Elementary Education are as follows:

1. Baccalaureate or sufficient (90) transfer hours from two and four-year regionally accredited institutions with a 3.0 GPA minimum.
2. Minimum prerequisite coursework as follows:
   1. Completed or nearly completed (lacking no more than two courses) general education program.
   2. One or more completed courses in any of the following areas: family studies, human development, psychology or sociology.
3. Completion of a personality inventory.*
4. Successful completion of a criminal background check as required for licensure by the Kansas State Department of Education.*
5. Brief autobiography and statement of goals.
6. Two professional references on forms provided by the Admissions Office.
7. Admissions interview upon review of completed application.

* There is a fee associated with this requirement.

Transition Points

1. Transition Point One:
   • Successfully completed admissions process.
2. Transition Point Two:
   • Completion of Praxis I and review of content area scores.
   • Determination of content area gaps and learning plan in place for correcting gaps.
   • Completion of teacher education courses leading to student teaching experiences with a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 and no classes below a grade of ‘C’ in the elementary education program.
   • Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Test 5622 taken, preferably passed. If the test is not passed the candidate may continue in the program. Passing the exam is required for licensure.
3. Transition Point Three:
   • Admission into the student teaching semester.
   • Successfully complete pre-student teaching field experience and EdTPA developmental review.
   • Successfully complete student teaching.
   • Submit EdTPA
4. Transition Point Four:
   • All course work completed.
   • Successfully pass EdTPA.
   • PLT passed.
   • Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Test (5017) passed.
   • Initial Licensure application with KSDE or equivalent.

Proposed Schedule: