Section 190. Professional studies requirements

Professional studies requirements for adult education, preK-12 endorsements, special education, and secondary grades 6-12 endorsements: 15 semester hours. These requirements may be taught in integrated coursework or modules.

1. Human growth and development (birth through adolescence): 3 semester hours. Skills in this area shall contribute to an understanding of the physical, social, emotional, speech and language, and intellectual development of children and the ability to use this understanding in guiding learning experiences. The interaction of children with individual differences – economic, social, racial, ethnic, religious, physical, and mental – should be incorporated to include skills contributing to an understanding of developmental disabilities and developmental issues related to but not limited to attention deficit disorders, gifted education including the use of multiple criteria to identify gifted students, substance abuse, child abuse, and family disruptions.

2. Curriculum and instructional procedures: 3 semester hours. Skills in this area shall contribute to an understanding of the principles of learning; the application of skills in discipline-specific methodology; communication processes; selection and use of materials, including media and computers; evaluation of pupil performance ; and the relationships among assessment, instruction, and monitoring student progress to include student performance measures in grading practices, the ability to construct and interpret valid assessments using a variety of formats in order to measure student attainment of essential skills in a standards-based environment, and the ability to analyze assessment data to make decisions about how to improve instruction and student performance. Teaching methods appropriate for limited English proficient students; exceptional students, including gifted and talented and those with disabling conditions ; and appropriate for the level of endorsement sought shall be included. Teaching methods shall be tailored to promote student academic progress and effective preparation for the Standards of Learning assessments. Methods of improving communication between schools and families and ways of increasing family involvement in student learning at home and in school and the Standards of Learning shall be included. Demonstrated proficiency in the use of educational technology for instruction shall be included. Persons seeking initial licensure as teachers and persons seeking licensure renewal as teachers for the first time shall complete study in child abuse recognition and intervention in accordance with curriculum guidelines developed by the Board of Education in consultation with the Department of Social Services that are relevant to the specific teacher licensure routes. Curriculum and instructional procedures for secondary grades 6-12 endorsements must include middle and secondary education. Pre-student teaching experiences (field experiences) should be evident within these skills. For preK-12, field experiences must be at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels.

3. Classroom and behavior management: 3 semester hours. Skills in this area shall contribute to an understanding and application of classroom and behavior management techniques and individual interventions, including techniques that promote emotional well-being and teach and maintain behavioral conduct and skills consistent with norms, standards, and rules of the educational environment. This area shall address diverse approaches based upon behavioral, cognitive, affective, social and ecological theory and practice.

4. Foundations of education: 3 semester hours. Skills in this area shall be designed to develop an understanding of the historical, philosophical, and sociological foundations underlying the role, development and organization of public education in the United States. Attention must be given to the legal status of teachers and students, including federal and state laws and regulations, school as an organization/culture, and contemporary issues in education. The historical, philosophical, and sociological foundations of the instructional design based on assessment data (the relationships among assessment, instruction, and monitoring student progress to include student performance measures in grading practices, the ability to construct and interpret valid assessments using a variety of formats in order to measure student attainment of essential skills in a standards-based environment, and the ability to analyze assessment data to make decisions about how to improve instruction and student performance) must be addressed.

5. Reading.

a. Adult education, preK-12, and secondary grades 6-12 – reading in the content area: 3 semester hours. Skills in this area shall be designed to impart an understanding of comprehension skills in all content areas, including a repertoire of questioning strategies, summarizing and retelling skills, and strategies in literal, interpretive, critical, and evaluative comprehension, as well as the ability to foster appreciation of a variety of literature and independent reading.

b. Special education – Language acquisition and reading: 6 semester hours.

Skills listed for these endorsement areas represent the minimum competencies that a beginning teacher must be able to demonstrate. These skills are not intended to limit the scope of a beginning teacher's program. Additional knowledge and skills that add to a beginning teacher's competencies to deliver instruction and improve student achievement should be included as part of a quality learning experience.

Skills in this area shall be designed to impart a thorough understanding of the complex nature of language acquisition and reading, to include phonemic awareness, concept of print, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategies. Additional skills shall include proficiency, in writing strategies, as well as the ability to foster appreciation of a variety of literature and independent reading.

6. Supervised classroom experience. The student teaching experience should provide for the prospective teacher to be in classrooms full time for a minimum of 300 clock hours (including pre- and post-clinical experiences) with at least 150 clock hours spent supervised in direct teaching activities (providing direct instruction) in the endorsement area sought. If a preK-12 endorsement is sought, teaching activities must be at the elementary and middle or secondary levels. Individuals seeking the endorsement in library media must complete the supervised experience in a school library media setting. Individuals seeking an endorsement in an area of special education must complete the supervised classroom experience requirement in the area of special education for which the endorsement is sought. One year of successful full-time teaching experience in the endorsement area in a public or accredited nonpublic school may be accepted in lieu of the supervised teaching experience. A fully licensed, experienced teacher must be available in the school building to assist a beginning teacher employed through the alternate route.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 23, Issue 25, eff. September 21, 2007.

Statutory Authority

§ 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia.