Innovative Practice-Based Approaches for Improving the Quality of Teachers Dual Certification Programs

 Discrete: Separate programs completed in full  Integrated: Programs remain distinct but curriculum is integrated –Requires course content modifications  Merged: Single program in which curriculum is fully integrated –Requires program redesign and development of new courses

How Many?  We have identified nearly 100 IHEs offering nearly 150 dual certification programs  Half Bachelor’s Degrees, half Master’s  Located in 29 states –About 2/3 are clustered in the Northeast  About 1/2 combine elementary and SE, 1/3 combine preK and SE, and 1/6 combine secondary and SE –Problem: Elementary gen ed and K12 SE

Field Experience Requirement Template  Student Teaching in both certification areas  Usually equivalent time commitments  Providence College (RI) –120 credit bachelor’s degree program –Elementary/SE –Which culminates with two semesters of student teaching: a minimum of 12 weeks with an elementary teacher and a minimum of 12 weeks with an elementary/special education teacher

Innovative Practice  Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee –54 credit –MA program –Inclusive Education  Student teaching consists of a 20- week placement in an inclusive setting or two 10-week placements: one in a regular education setting and one in a special education setting

Innovative Practice  Bowling Green State University –122 credit bachelor’s degree programs –Inclusive early childhood education  Two Internships in an inclusive K-3 classroom, with supervised experiences as a general classroom teacher and an intervention specialist

Innovative Practice  Shippensburg University –135 Credit, bachelor’s degree program –Special Education and Early Childhood Education  12 credits student teaching experience in two field placements –8 weeks in a PK-4 inclusive environment –8 weeks in a PK-8 Special Education setting

Innovative Practice  Cazenovia College –129 credit, bachelor’s degree –English 7 to 12/SE  One 7-week placement in grades 7-9 and one 7-week placement in grades At least half of the required classroom settings be inclusive classrooms and/or working with students with special needs.

Innovative Practice— Not!!  8 Credits Student Teaching Elementary but only 5 Credits-Student Teaching Exceptional Need  3 Credit Special Education Mini Practicum  …placements involve working with one content teacher for a full semester. However, because we are a dual certification program, student teachers must have an opportunity to work with students with disabilities as well.