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CERTIFICATION-ONLY ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The purpose of the certification-only alternative teacher certification program is to offer an alternative teacher certification pathway for grades 6-12, K-12, and Special Education
Birth-Age 5.

After successful completion of all requirements, students may be recommended for certification through the Louisiana Department of Education.

Admission Requirements

- - Earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on all undergraduate course work. In the case of a cumulative GPA that is 2.5-2.74, the candidate may interview for admission.
  - Passing scores on PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators - Reading, Writing, and Mathematics unless the Louisiana Department of Education requirements for an ACT/SAT waiver are met, or higher OR a master's degree. (Refer to the Louisiana Department of Education website for current passing scores.)
  - Passing scores on the Praxis II in the content area in which the candidate is seeking certification. There is no Praxis II exam for Computer Science; therefore, 31 hours of computer science courses are required.
  - Vocal or Instrumental Music: Those seeking admission for alternate certification in these areas must have at least a bachelor's degree in the content area. Those who do not have a degree in the content area must meet with the head of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts for additional course work.
  - Students must also apply for graduate admission to the University through the Office of Admissions.

To apply for admission, official transcripts from all universities attended, along with official Praxis scores, must be submitted to the coordinator of the Certification-Only Alternative Certification Program.

Selective Admission and Retention in Teacher Education (SARTE) Policies

A person desiring to become a teacher must maintain academic standards and demonstrate qualifications for successful teaching including satisfactory performance in field experiences. Therefore, the College of Education at Southeastern Louisiana University reserves the right to recruit, admit and retain in the Professional Program in Teacher Education only those students who show evidence of being capable of performing in an acceptable professional manner.

Certification requirements are specified by the State Legislature and/or the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and coordinated by the State Department of Education. While programs at Southeastern’s are designed to meet the requirements of the State Department of Education, it is the State Department that grants certification. These requirements are subject to periodic modification, which may not occur at times appropriate for inclusion in the annual publication of the University Catalog. It is the responsibility of the students to make periodic checks for such changes with their academic advisers and/or department head.

SARTE Status

To be considered for full SARTE status, an applicant must:

Meet all requirements for admission to Graduate Studies.
Achieve a grade of B or better in EPSY 603, SPED 663, or SPED 682 as appropriate to the program in which the candidate is enrolled, and apply for Selective Admission and Retention in Teacher Education (SARTE) status during the course. The SARTE admissions course must be repeated if the grade is lower than a B.
Maintain a cumulative 3.0 graduate GPA with no grade below “C” and not more than one “C” grade.

Ongoing screening of each student utilizing the standards of the Professional Program in Teacher Education will occur each semester of a student’s enrollment.

Students demonstrating inappropriate behaviors or dispositions for being successful in the teaching profession will be referred for a Professional Performance Review. A review may result in:

No actions being taken but further observations.
Recommendation of a Professional Improvement Plan (PIP) monitored by the Coordinator of the Teacher Development program.
Referral to the SARTE Committee which may recommend:
- Probation with specified conditions.
- Temporary suspension from the MAT and the Teacher Education Program with specified conditions.
- Expulsion from the MAT degree and the Teacher Education Program.

Portfolios

As part of the College of Education’s focus on performance-based outcomes, portfolios will be incorporated into the assessment of students enrolled in an approved Teacher Education Program.

The portfolio will allow students to demonstrate, through reflections, their understanding of how artifacts contained in the portfolio meet the program outcomes; provide a process by which a student can become a reflective practitioner to foster continuous improvement; and document a student’s growth in the program. The portfolio will consist of artifacts, documents, and evidence which demonstrate that the student has met the requirements for knowledge, skills, and dispositions described by the program indicators for teaching observations and professional dispositions that meet the state requirements for initial certification. Students will submit a Proficiency Level Portfolio as a prerequisite for the student teaching residency or internship year. Successful completion of Residency 1 and Residency 2 Level Portfolios is required for program completion.

Requirements for Student Teaching Residency

The Louisiana Department of Education regulations for certification of teachers require that students complete their student teaching under the control and supervision of the institution from which they expect to be graduated. To be eligible for student teaching residency, students must:

Apply for student teaching by the deadline, which occurs one semester prior to the student teaching experience. The Director of Clinical Practice and Residency assigns grade or subject and supervising teacher.
Pass Praxis exams appropriate to the content area in which certification is being sought unless the Louisiana Department of Education requirements for an ACT/SAT waiver are met.
Pass the Proficiency Level Portfolio.
Have full SARTE status.
Receive approval from the Director of Clinical Practice and Residency .

Three years teaching experience in content area allows students in alternative certification programs to apply to Louisiana Department of Education for a student teaching waiver.

Student Teaching Residency

The student teacher resident will follow the school district’s calendar and will report to the school in the summer when teachers arrive for the school year (or December for the spring student teacher resident). This will be prior to the first day of class on the University academic calendar. The student teacher resident reports at the designated time for school district teachers each day and will remain at the school for 80% of the instructional time for the first semester. Student teaching residency for the second semester is 100% of the instructional time, and the student teacher resident will remain at the school until regular dismissal of teaching personnel. Six semester hours are awarded for the first semester residency, and nine semester hours are awarded for the second semester residency.

The student teacher resident will be assigned to complete his/her student teaching residency away from the campus community; therefore, student teacher residents must expect that they may be asked to make arrangements to be away from the campus for part of the time during their first semester and full time during their second semester of their residency. The Director of Student Teaching Residency will make the assignments for each student teacher resident.

The student teacher resident may take other classes with their residency during the first semester. The student teacher resident may schedule only one course with the second semester of residency. Any course scheduled in addition to second semester of student teaching residency must not conflict with their full time participation in the school. The hours involved in second semester student teaching residency will be approximately 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (i.e., whatever are the school hours for the residency school), Monday through Friday.

In order to remain in student teaching/internship, students are expected to meet and maintain desirable professional, physical and moral standards consistent with their positions in the public schools. A student who fails or is directed to withdraw from student teaching or internship must complete a one semester Professional Improvement Plan prior to a second teaching/internship experience. A student may not attempt a student teaching residency a third time. Only a grade of Pass or Fail is issued.

Internship Year

An internship consisting of two consecutive semesters of teaching at an approved school site and the appropriate grade level and in the area of certification may be substituted for student teaching. Internships must be completedin a school approved by Southeastern. Principals at participating schools must sign an Internship Agreement with Southeastern.

To qualify for an internship, a student must meet all of the requirements for the Student Teaching Residency and provide:

Verification that all pre-requisites have been met the semester prior to the internship.
Verification that all required parts of the Praxis have been successfully passed.
Written recommendation from all the candidate’s methods instructors and a rating using the Professional Attributes and Characteristics Scale.
Completed application for the internship.
Verification that the school has a state approved classification.
Verification that the school is accredited by the regional accrediting agency.
Verification that the principal/assistant principal has certification in Principalship and training in supervision.
Verification that the principal/assistant principal has served in this role for a minimum of three years.
Signed Principal/Assistant Principal Internship Agreement form.
Verification that a mentor, teacher, who has taught a minimum of three years in the area of the intern’s certification will be assigned by the principal/assistant principal to assist the intern.
Verification of minimum class size in the area of certification.
Evidence of cultural diversity within the school population.
A copy of the Signed Internship Agreement form.
A copy of the contract or employment agreement after the internship has been approved.
A copy of the teaching schedule signed by the principal/assistant principal.

Note: The candidate is responsible for submitting the above documents the semester prior to beginning the internship. A complete packet should be submitted rather than item by item. Authorization to register for an internship will not be granted until all documents have been submitted.

Practitioner License 2

Students enrolled in the Certification-Only Alternate Program may be eligible to receive a Practitioner License (PL) 2 through the Louisiana Department of Education. The PL allows students to teach while pursuing alternate certification. The PL may be issued for one school year, renewed annually, and held for a maximum of three years while completing the program. To be eligible for renewal, students must remain enrolled in the program and complete nine hours each year, unless fewer hours are needed to complete the program. Application for the PL2 is made by the employing school system.

Curriculum for Alternative Certification Grades 6-12 or Grades K-12

Alternate teacher certification is offered for grades 6-12 in the following subjects: Biology, Business Education, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, Mathematics, Physics, Science, Social Studies, and Speech.

Alternate teacher certification is offered for grades K-12 in the following subjects: Art, Health and Physical Education, French, Spanish, Music (Instrumental), and Music (Vocal).

Please consult your advisor for the sequence of coursework.

Required Courses (30 hours)

Classroom Readiness Training

EPSY 603	3 hours
EPSY 605	3 hours
MAT 623	3 hours
MAT 630	3 hours

Methodology and Teaching

MAT 650	3 hours
MAT 660	3 hours
MAT 661	3 hours

Reading Course

EDUC 664

3 hours

Residency

Student teachers take MAT 682 and 692.
Interns take two consecutive semesters of MAT 688.

6 hours

Curriculum for Alternative Certification - Special Education Early Intervention Special Education Birth-Age 5