§ 354.25. Preparation program curriculum.
(a) The preparation program shall be designed to ensure that candidates acquire and learn to apply the professional and pedagogical knowledge, defined in § 354.33 (relating to professional competency), and skill dimensions identified in § 354.32 (relating to monitoring and assessment). The evidence required to demonstrate that this standard is met includes the following:
(1) The preparation program design shall be consistent with the preparing institution’s mission, and reflect knowledge derived from research and sound professional practice.
(2) The preparing institution shall ensure that the preparation program curriculum does not include unnecessary duplication of coursework and strives to create efficient professional educator preparation.
(3) The preparing institution shall ensure that candidates complete a well planned sequence of professional educator courses and field experiences to develop an understanding of the structure, skills, core concepts, facts, methods of inquiry and application of technology related to each academic discipline the candidates plan to teach or in the academic disciplines related to the noninstructional certificate categories in which they plan to serve.
(4) For initial programs culminating in a bachelor’s degree, the professional educator program shall cooperate with the liberal arts and other academic disciplines of the college or university to create preparation programs that allow candidates to complete the degree and the initial preparation program within 4 years from the time of initial enrollment at the college or university.
(5) For initial programs culminating in an advanced degree, the professional educator program shall cooperate with the liberal arts and other academic disciplines of the college or university to create preparation programs that allow candidates to complete the advanced degree and the initial preparation program within 5 years from the time of initial enrollment at the college or university.
(6) For initial programs conducted under § 49.91 (relating to intern certificates), the preparing institution shall cooperate with the liberal arts and other academic disciplines of the college or university to create preparation programs that allow candidates to complete the intern program under § 49.92 (relating to validity).
(b) The preparation program shall be designed to enable candidates to integrate general and academic coursework, with professional and pedagogical coursework to teach, guide and assist public school students in achieving the academic standards under Chapter 4 (relating to academic standards and assessments). Candidates shall complete a sequence of courses and experiences in:
(1) Professional studies in which they acquire and learn to apply knowledge about the impact of technology in teaching and learning.
(2) Pedagogical studies that help develop understanding and use of technology in education, including the use of computers, the internet, distance learning technologies, and other emerging technologies in instruction, assessment and professional productivity.
(c) The preparation program shall be designed to ensure that candidates become competent professional educators. The evidence that this standard is met includes the following:
(1) Programs for the continuing preparation of professional educators build upon and extend prior knowledge and experiences of candidates including core studies of learning and practices that support learning.
(2) Professional educator program specific guidelines, the learning principles defined in § 354.33 and Chapter 4 are used in developing programs in each certificate area.
(3) Programs are designed to ensure candidates research information, use research methods, and acquire knowledge about issues and trends in public education.
(d) The professional educator program shall have sequential field experiences that may begin as early as the initial semester of college enrollment, prior to student teaching, internships, and clinical experiences, which provide candidates with opportunity to:
(1) Apply principles and theories from the program design to actual practice in classrooms and schools.
(2) Study and practice in a variety of communities, with students of different ages, and with culturally diverse and exceptional populations.
(e) Field experiences shall:
(1) Include frequent observation and consultation with cooperating teachers and school administrators fluent in the institution’s education philosophy.
(2) Be fully supported by the preparing institution’s faculty.
(3) Be an integrated part of the professional education curriculum and shall be consistent with the overall program design.
(4) Encourage reflection by candidates.
(5) Include evaluation and feedback from higher education faculty, public or nonpublic school faculty, and peers.
(f) The preparation program shall be designed to provide a minimum 12 week full-time student teaching experience under the supervision of:
(1) Program faculty with knowledge and experience in the area of certification.
(2) Cooperating teachers trained by the preparation program faculty and who have the following:
(i) The appropriate professional educator certification.
(ii) At least 3 years of satisfactory certificated teaching experience.
(iii) At least 1 year of certificated teaching experience in the school entity where the student teacher is placed.
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 354.31 (relating to admission).
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