Program Admissions
CAP 5 is admission to the program where candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 as documented on official transcript for a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (or 3.0 on last 30 hours). Candidates must also have passing scores on the Praxis I CORE exams or the GRE. Further candidates must provide three letters of recommendation, a clear criminal background check, and self-assessment of dispositions. They must also sign and commit to the KY Code of Ethics, the National Association for the Education of Young Children Code of Ethics, the Council for Exceptional Children - Division of Early Childhood Code of Ethics, and the First Steps Provider Code of Ethical Conduct, a diversity survey, and a creativity self-assessment, and sign the unit’s disposition assessment policy. Candidates must successfully complete an entrance interview at which time a presentation is made by the candidate, which is scored using a rubric that includes assessment of the 4 Cs 21st Century Skills (creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking). Lastly, upon admission, candidates must provide a Praxis II Study Plan (if exam not previously taken and passed and current). CAP 5 requirements are the same for traditional and alternative certification Option 6 candidates.
CAP 6 is a mid-point check in the educator preparation program for graduate candidates and involves evaluation of cumulative GPA (3.0), disposition assessments, completion of 100 field experience hours (completed as directed assignments in IECE courses and, if needed, in MAT Practicum courses for traditional candidates), and passing Praxis II scores in the IECE area of licensure. Further, candidates must demonstrate competency on three major critical assessments: (1) development and implementation of a professional growth plan; (2) a portfolio-quality philosophy of education; and, (3) submission of a CAP 6 Portfolio that includes a unit of study (taught in a designated field setting) with a minimum of three lesson plans and competency demonstrated on all ten IECE Kentucky Teacher Standards (minimum score of 2.0 of a 3-point rubric rubric). All documentation for lesson plans will be based on the KTIP Sources of Evidence forms (SOE). CAP 6 requirements are the same for traditional and alternative certification Option 6 candidates.
CAP 7 is program exit. Candidates must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, completed 200 field experience hours, and submitted an electronic portfolio, meeting all Kentucky Teacher Standards for IECE. Traditional Candidates must successfully complete 200 Field Experience hours prior to 16 weeks of Student Teaching. Alternative Certification Candidates must evidence successful completion of KTIP.
Signed Field Experience Logs are submitted at the completion of each term with reflections. All required entries of field experiences are completed. The University maintains on ongoing data base of all field experiences including types, sites, and hours.