The Bachelor of Education in Middle Education with Special Education 6-8 prepares qualified candidates to become Middle Education 6-8 teachers with two academic concentrations plus the Special Education 6-8 Endorsement in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Concentration choices are English, history/social sciences, mathematics and sciences. Students who choose the Mathematics Concentration also earn the Algebra I Licensure Endorsement. Preservice candidates in this professional degree work with mentor educators teaching adolescents through multiple experiences in local schools. Middle Education with Special Education 6-8 candidates learn to combine knowledge, theory and skills from academic and pedagogy courses with effective, research-based instructional, management, assessment and reflection strategies practiced in field experiences to help middle school students with and without disabilities to achieve their best school careers.

Program Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Education in Middle Education with Special Education 6-8 are able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the curriculum, subject content, and the developmental needs of students by providing relevant learning experiences;
• plan using the Virginia Standards of Learning, the school’s curriculum, effective strategies, resources, and data to meet the needs of all students;
• effectively engage students in learning by using a variety of instructional strategies in order to meet individual learning needs;
• systematically gather, analyze, and use all relevant data to measure student academic progress, guide instructional content and delivery methods, and provide timely feedback to both students and parents throughout the term;
• use resources, routines, and procedures to provide a respectful, positive, safe, student-centered environment that is conducive to learning;
• maintain a commitment to professional ethics, communicate effectively, and take responsibility for and participate in professional growth that results in enhanced student learning;
• perform work that results in acceptable, measurable, and appropriate student academic progress; and
• demonstrate Program Outcomes 1-7 with appropriate adaptations, instruction, communication, documentation and evaluation of middle school students with disabilities.

State Requirements for Teacher Licensure

Students preparing to be teachers are expected to meet the requirements for teacher licensure currently in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Most states grant teaching licensure on a reciprocal basis when the educating institution is approved by its own state department of education or when graduates of an institution are eligible for teaching licensure in the state in which they were educated. Teacher education programs at Shenandoah University are approved programs of the Virginia State Board of Education, and nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); thus, graduates will have met all educational requirements for Virginia licensure.

Admission

Students are admitted to the Bachelor of Education in Middle Education with Special Education 6-8 degree in Pre-Candidate status, based on the entrance criteria established by the University and School of Education and Leadership. After choosing their two academic concentrations from the four available, students follow the course of study published in the Shenandoah University Undergraduate Catalog for the year of entrance to the university.

Middle Education with Special Education 6-8 students must take and pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment test (VCLA) prior to the Candidate Screening interview. Bachelor of Education in Middle Education with Special Education 6-8 students are admitted to candidacy following successful completion of the Candidate Screening.  In addition, the ALEK placement is required for math and science endorsements.

Candidate Screening

A prospective teacher education student undergoes candidate screening by the end of sophomore year; transfers undergo candidate screening during or after first term at SU. The Academic Requirements for Candidacy Screening are as follows:

1. Complete EDU 310 The Teaching Profession course or Equivalent with Practicum Experience – evaluations submitted by cooperating teachers;
2. Pass “240 Tutoring” “Praxis CORE Practice Tests” in Reading and Writing;
3. Elementary and Math/Science majors need to Pass ALEK math placement test;
4. Remediation provided in “240 Tutoring” for students who need to pass; and
5. minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the education major is required.

The Teacher Education Application Process is as follows:

1. Student completes Teacher Education Program (TEP) application
2. Student notes contact information for Recommendations in the application
3. Submit the application to Office of Educator Licensure via link in Teacher Education Handbook
4. Applications reviewed March 1, May 1, Oct. 1, Dec. 1 (or nearest weekday)
5. The Faculty Committee Chair will schedule Interviews and reflective writing times with applicants via email.  

After the interview day, students will be notified via email letter of their status: approved, probationary (with conditions), or rejected (with appeals process noted). The Teacher Education Handbook gives more details on this process.

Students must receive satisfactory ratings by the Teacher Education Faculty Advisory Board prior to admission into the education program and prior to student teaching. Prior to student teaching, all students must successfully complete Praxis II in their subject areas, and elementary (PreK-6) education students must also pass the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Test. Students must complete the application for student teaching (found in the Teacher Education Handbook, along with required recommendations.  Shenandoah University reserves the right to determine the fitness of an individual to student teach.

Pre-Student Teaching Candidate Licensure Assessments

All initial licensure teacher education programs at Shenandoah University require that

1. the PRAXIS Subject Assessment exam must be passed prior to student teaching; and
2. VCLA must be passed before student teaching.

Shenandoah University has been entrusted by the Virginia Department of Education and our K-12 School Partners with the responsibility for determining the fitness of an individual to student teach.