Standard 1: Candidate Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions

Candidate outcomes are drawn from multiple sources: state licensure examinations (Exhibits 1.4.c.1; 1.4.c.2), performance-based summative assessments (Exhibits 1.4.c.3; 1.4.c.4), exit surveys (Exhibit 1.4.c.5), cooperating teacher surveys (Exhibit 1.4.c.6) and follow-up surveys (Exhibits 1.4.c.7). The unit administers an employer/supervisor survey (Exhibit 1.4.c.8) for program alumni in their first year of teaching, but response rates are very low (Exhibits 1.4.j.3; 1.4.j.4; 1.4.j.5; 1.4.j.6; 1.4.j.7). We also collect general employment data in partnership with Career Services (Exhibits 1.4.j.1; 1.4.j.2).

 Content Knowledge

Initial Licensure

• State Licensure Content Examinations. The Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE) were first implemented in September 2010, replacing the Praxis series of tests. Content passing rates for all test takers (Exhibit 1.4.d.1) and program completers (Exhibit 1.4.d.2) are over 80%. Our Title II report, (Exhibit 1.4.b.3) also shows that over 80% of completers have passed all required licensure exams.
• Preparation of Program Completers. Exhibits (1.4.d.4; 1.4.d.5) summarize data from three instruments. The Exit Survey (Exhibit 1.4.d.16), taken by candidates completing an initial licensure program, the Performance-Based Assessment of Student Teaching (Exhibit 1.4.d.3), completed by cooperating teachers and the university supervisors and the Transition to Teaching survey, administered to program alumni at the end of their first year of teaching (Exhibit 1.4.i.1; 1.4.i.2; 1.4.i.3; 1.4.i.4; 1.4.i.5; 1.4.i.6; 1.4.i.7). Content knowledge is measured in Standard 1: Subject Matter and Standard 7: Planning Instruction. Both of these standards are strengths for our unit and for our programs.
• Cooperating Teacher Survey. Cooperating teachers complete a second assessment of teacher candidates at the completion of student teaching (Exhibit 1.4.c.6). Data from the 2013-14 academic year (N=181) demonstrate that 90.1% of cooperating teachers found their teacher candidates to be prepared in content knowledge (Exhibit 1.4.d.9).

Advanced Preparation

Advanced programs measure candidate content knowledge through course-based assessments and licensure examinations. In 2013-14, 100% of advanced candidates (8 of 8) passed state content examinations (Exhibit 1.4.d.12).

Other School Professionals

School Counseling candidates take the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) in their final semester. The CPCE assesses candidate’s content knowledge in eight core areas identified by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). In each of the past three years candidates from SCSU scored higher than the national mean in total score and in most content areas. In 2013 SCSU candidates exceeded the national average in every area (Exhibit 1.4.d.11).