Advising Information & Resources

Welcome

As you progress though your degree at California University of Pennsylvania there are many people and places where you can find information to help make your academic decisions. This webpage hopes to provide you with a connection to many university resources. When you are ready contact me and we can have a conversation about your academic plans.

Office Hours/Schedule an Appointment

All faculty in the Elementary and Early Childhood Department are ready to help. If you would like to schedule an appointment please contact me by phone or email. Make sure that if you sign-up you keep your appointment or call far enough in advance that another student could use your time slot.

University Support

Your intellectual development during your academic career may be influenced by physical, emotional, and life events outside of class.  Listed below are some support services to help you deal with these unique circumstances.   When life events affect your academic performance there are people and resources that can support you through the tough times. Listed below are some of those support services. Please contact someone...you are not alone!

California U Public Safety - 724-938-4299

Office for Students with Disabilities - 724-938-5781

Student Health Center - 724-938-4232

Counseling & Psychological Services - 724-938-4056

Sexual & Domestic Abuse Crisis Phone - 724-938-4325

Social Equity Office - 724-938-4014

Office of Student Succes - 724-938-1523

Teacher Education Program Handbook

Many questions about the processes and procedures about your teacher education program can be found in the Teacher Education Program Handbook. Please consult this book first for answers to your questions.

Forms and Documents

Many of the forms you need such as the Application to Teacher Education Form, Recommendation for Student Teaching and others are available at this College of Education and Human Services website.

Praxis Test Information

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires that candidates for elementary or early childhood education teacher certification take 5 tests. These tests are designed and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Praxis I Tests before Admission to Teacher Education - In order to be admitted to the teacher education program all candidates must take, pass and have their score sent to Cal U before they can be admitted to teacher education. The Praxis I tests are called the pre-professional skills test: PPST Reading (#0710 paper-based test or #5710 computer-based test); PPST Writing (#0720 paper-based test or #5720 computer-based test); and PPST Mathematics (#0730 paper-based test or #5730 computer-based test).

Praxis II Tests before Recommendation for Student Teaching - The Praxis II tests must be taken, passed and reported to Cal U prior to the Recommendation for Student Teaching deadlines of June 1st for Fall Student Teaching and November 1 for Spring Student Teaching.

Elementary Education majors must take: 1. Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment (#0011) and 2. Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (#0511).

Early Childhood majors must take: 1. Early Childhood Education (#0020) and 2. Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (#0511).

Dual Elementary and Early Childhood majors must take tests #0511,#0011,and #0020.

A complete list of required PRAXIS tests for all Cal U majors can be found here.

When to take Praxis Tests - Our best advice is that you should take the tests after you have completed the classes that help you pass the Praxis Tests and far enough before the deadlines so that your scores are reported in a timely manner. Please see your advisor for help in planning the optimum time for you to take the Praxis Tests.

Finding Information - All of the information you need to know about when, where, how much, and what is on the tests can be located at the ETS Praxis website. Information about Pennsylvania's requirements, passing scores and other information is located on the ETS website here .

At California University of Pennsylvania the current requirements for taking the tests can be found on the information paper entitled, "Praxis Exam Requirements." located in the Department office in 302 Keystone.

Preparing for Praxis Tests - All students should prepare before taking these tests. There are many resources available to help you be successful. First, perform well on the assignments in your classes. Second, study for the Praxis tests by obtaining a copy of the free study guides on-line from ETS or buy one of the many Praxis study guides available in bookstores (Make sure to buy the right study guide for your test. Check the test number when buying a test guide). There are free copies available to borrow and more information on the website for the Cal U Praxis Preparation Office. Everyone should read the ETS study tips webpage as well as download and read "General Information and Study Tips" and "Reducing Test Anxiety" at the bottom of that webpage. Don't waste your money and time by having to take the Praxis Tests over again....some students have had to change their academic personal plans because they didn't pass the Praxis tests....invest in your future by studing for success and pass the first time!

Once you have the information about what is on the test .... find a friend, form a study group, and prepare for success!

Praxis Test Scores - The best place to find information about your Praxis test score is from the ETS Praxis Website for Pennsylvania.

For Praxis I tests there are two scoring methods. Either you earn scores that allow you to pass them outright (Reading = 172; Writing = 173; Math 173) OR the scores need to be above a minimum (Reading = 171; Writing = 170; Math 171) AND the cumulative score for all three must be above 521 then you could pass. This second method of scoring allows you to have a slightly lower score on one test and use a higher score on another test to still pass. These two methods of scoring are explained on the Praxis handouts in the department office and on the ETS website.

Praxis II passing scores (as of September 2005) are 150 on the Fundamental Subjects test (#0511); 168 on the Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (# 0011); and 530 on the Early Childhood Education (#0020).

Praxis II Info August 2008 - Since ETS recently changed the number of sessions for testing from 3 in one day to 2 in one day, some students found themselves unable to register for the remaining Praxis II tests on the same day.  For students who are planning to student teach in Spring 2009 who attempted to register for Elementary Education: CIA (0011) and the Early Childhood Education (0020) on September 13, 2008 and were not able to do so, an exception has been approved to allow these students to take 0011 on September 13, 2008 and 0020 on November 15, 2008.  BOTH tests must be passed prior to the beginning of the Spring 2009 semester in order to student teach in Spring 2009 in Early Childhood Education

This exception applies only to this semester.

Criminal and Child Abuse Clearances

Pennsylvania Law requires that all personel in schools obtain criminal background checks and child abuse clearances BEFORE you can interact with children. This impacts Cal U students who may be required for their courses to go to public schools. It also impacts students who are applying for student teaching. For information on how to obtain clearance you can go to the Department Office or to the College of Education Clearance Website.

Candidates who are student teaching in Fall 2008 will be required to present a current ACT 114 clearance on or before August 22, 2008. This clearance must be "Current" (one-year from date of issuance) through December 14, 2008.   Candidates who do not comply with this policy will be not be permitted to student teach in Fall 2008.

Speech and Hearing Screening

Before you can be admitted to the teacher education program you must take and pass a speech and hearing screening. These can be taken in the Communication Disorders Speech and Hearing Clinic located in Morgan Learning Research Center Room 296. There is no cost and appointments are necessary. As of August 2008 the hearing test times are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-5 PM.

Writing Resumes

Communicating your talents, skills, education and experiences to a potential employer in a brief format is the purpose of a resume. Often, employers receive a stack of resumes to consider for a single position and the first decision on whether to invite some one for an interview is made based on the information contained in the resume. So it is important to put together a high quality resume that communicates your experiences without the format distracting people from the key information you want them to know. To help you find resources for your resume , contact the Career Services Center. Click on the Red Book icon on the right side of the page.

Pre-Service Teacher Professional Seminar Series

The professional seminar series provides you an opportunity to learn about various aspects of the teaching profession. Information and requirements can be located by following the previous link.

Students may attend Cal U sponsored seminars or select other seminar/conferences. Cal U sponsored seminars automatically provide a completion certificate based on your attendance and participation. Students will be notified when their certificates are ready and after a period of time they can pick them up at Keystone 202. Students who wish to attend a workshop or conference should contact their advisor BEFORE attending to have their workshop/conference approved IN ADVANCE. Please provide adequate documentation to help your advisor make their decision. The advisor can then email your name and conference to the College office where a completion certificate can be prepared for later pickup.

Students that have not completed their seminars prior to submitting their paper work for admission to teacher education or recomendation for student teaching should take their completion certificates to the Department office to record the professional seminar completion on your application.

Applicants for student teaching in the Fall have until June 1 to submit their completion certificates and Spring student teacher applicants have until November 1.

Designing Your Portfolio Using LiveText

You are required to demonstrate the attainment of the competencies expected of beginning teacher by putting together a teacher education portfolio. You must complete this portfolio before you can be approved to student teach. Additional information on the portfolio and LiveText process can be found at the following webpage.

 

Last Updated: September 4, 2008