School of Education - 2011 Phase-Out Narrative

Note: There is no intention to phase-out the teacher certification program at LSSU as a whole, only those academic majors and minors where assessment data indicates a need for substantive program review.  The phased-out programs represent areas of high student interest, and valid academic fields for teacher preparation, and this decision was not taken lightly or without consideration of the consequences. As the university's standing in the Teacher Preparation Institution Performance Report increases, these academic subjects should seek full reinstatement through alignment to the standards in place at that time, incoroporating a robust program assessment plan to track student progress and achievement.

The university agrees to follow a plan of action for the controlled, phased and orderly phase-out of the programs identified below. This plan includes the following steps.

1. Notify students prior by August 26, 2011 of the Endorsement Phase-out Plan as described below,  posting informational announcements to the Education website, and campus community, explaining the scope and nature of the phase-out plan and its rationale, hold informational meetings for students in mid-September
2. Action Item 1: phase-out of English and Social Studies.  These currently-approved programs are scheduled for phase-out starting December 2011.   Students admitted to the School of Education on or before December 2011 may use the approved majors and minors in these fields to qualify for teacher certification.  No new students may use these programs after December 2011.  Students in these programs must complete all academic coursework on or before December 31, 2013 and be ready for student teaching scheduled starting in January 2014.
1. English (elementary and secondary majors and minors) – The English department will provide transition plan, for MDE review/approval, modifying 2005 approved program to align the current course offerings to the standards.  Elementary students are advised to change to the new Language Arts rather than continue with English Language and Literature..  
2. Social Studies – Students admitted to the School of Education prior to December 31, 2010 may use either the former social studies majors or the newly approved majors.  Students admitted to the School of Education after January 1, 2011 must use the newly approved programs for social studies until the program phase-out effective December 2011.  The approved new programs require 72 credits for the secondary major, and 70 credits for the elementary major
3. Action Item 2:  phase-out of History, Geography, Economics and Political Science.  These discontinued programs will continue to be available to currently and continuously enrolled students admitted to the School of Education on or before December 31, 2010.  Students in these programs should complete academic coursework on or before May 31, 2013 and be ready for student teaching scheduled on or before August 2013.  Students admitted to the School of Education after January 1, 2011 may continue to use social studies until that program is phased-out on December 31, 2011.
4. Action Item 3:   Notify the academic departments of the impact of Level-3 corrective action and potential for program suspension.  Promote use of the MEAP-like assessments (MLAs) for academic content review by departments. Develop MLA crosswalks matching available tests to academic programs.   Require MLAs as requirement for admission in addition to Basic Skills Test.  Require MLAs for EDUC courses prior to student teaching based on crosswalk.