The Elementary/Special Education (ESE) program prepares the candidate to provide educational services for all students in grades P-5, including those with disabilities whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) indicates instruction using the general education curriculum. The program is offered as day, evening, online/weekend, or non-certification track.
Note: Students who do not gain admission into the certification track may be considered for the non-certification track.
* The Teacher Education Program adheres to state and national accrediting board policies that govern Middle Georgia State University's Teacher Education Programs. All governing state and national policies will be applied in tandem withMGA policy therein.
ESE Admission Requirements
Admission into the Elementary/Special Education Program is granted on a space available basis. To be considered for admission, students must:
- Be admitted to Middle Georgia State University in good academic standing. Disciplinary action at Middle Georgia State University and/or any other institution that the student has attended or while in the military may prevent admission.
- Submit a program admission packet to the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work Administrative Secretary or to the Admissions and Certification Specialist. Program admission packets are found on the School of Education & Behavioral Science website. Rolling admission is utilized. Priority deadlines are posted on the School of Education & Behavioral Sciences website.
- Present a passing score (250 or higher) on the GACE Program Admissions Assessment or show evidence of exemption from either of the following national exam scores: 526 composite score on Praxis I (if taken prior to March 5, 2007); ACT combined score of 43 on English/Math; SAT - combined score of 1000 on SAT verbal/math prior to 7/1/2019; SAT score reports dated 7/1/19 or after 1080 on Evidence-based Reading/Writing and Math; or GRE (1030 Verbal and Quantitative; after 8-1-11, 297 Verbal and Quantitative). Not applicable to non-certification students.
- Provide a clear criminal background check and proof of completion of the Georgia Educator Ethics Entry Assessment (350G). Information regarding both will be provided in the admission packet.
- Complete all core requirements of the program of study.
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher for certification track on all courses to include transfer, transient, or taken as a part of a prior degree.
- Provide two letters of academic or professional recommendation.
- Be available during regular school day hours for internship, clinical experiences, and program-based seminars.
- Transfer students may be eligible for admission without having satisfied the Middle Georgia State University Area B requirement. Exceptions will be made at the discretion of the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work.
- The Department of Teacher Education & Social Work will request a Pre-Service Certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) for the prospective candidate. The decision to issue the Pre-Service Certificate resides solely with GaPSC. If a student cannot obtain a GaPSC certificate, acceptance into this program will be revoked.
- Upon receipt of a copy of the Pre-Service Certificate by the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work the prospective candidate will be notified in writing by the department of their acceptance.
- Upon acceptance, students are referred to as “teacher candidates”.
- Upon acceptance teacher candidates must present proof of having liability insurance and a required online portfolio account(s). Instructions will be provided as to how to obtain each of these.
- Teacher candidates must sign their program of study. Teacher candidates are required to follow the program of study as prepared by the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work. Deviations from that program without prior consent from the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work will result in dismissal from the Teacher Education Program.
- Applicants applying to the evening track or online/weekend track, who are currently employed as paraprofessionals must obtain a signed copy of a Principal Support Letter.
ESE Academic Progression and Completion
Teacher candidates must meet the following requirements to remain in the ESE program:
- Per semester, maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater in all courses in the major.
- A grade of “B” or better is required in all upper division field/clinical courses. If a passing grade is not earned, the teacher candidate will not be allowed to continue in the program.
- Earn a grade no lower than a “B” in SPED 3110.
- Earn a grade no lower than a “C” in all upper division courses.
- Teacher candidate may retake only one upper level course. Teacher candidate
s will be placed on probation (with an action plan) until a passing grade is earned. See numbers 2 and 3 above.
- Pass all key assessments with an 80% mastery.
- Provide evidence of attempting Georgia Educator Ethics Exit Assessment (360G) prior to progression into Clinical Practice II. (Not applicable to non-certification candidates.)
- Provide evidence of attempting the GACE Content Assessment (resulting in an official score on all parts of the assessment) prior to the end of the semester while enrolled in Clinical Practice II. (Not applicable to non-certification candidates.)
- Maintain professional liability insurance and online portfolio account(s). Teacher candidates must hold a valid Pre-Service Certificate for the duration of the program.
- Adhere to all policies and codes of personal, academic, and professional conduct which originate with the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work, School of Education & Behavioral Sciences, Middle Georgia State University, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and associated Boards of Education and other accrediting bodies.
NOTE: Should a teacher candidate complete all program requirements and the EPP determines that a candidate needs to increase competency in any area--knowledge, pedagogy, or dispositions--the EPP can request the completion of additional work before the teacher candidate will be declared a program completer.
Non-Certification Track
Admission into the Elementary/Special Education Program is competitive and granted on a space available basis. Applicants who do not successfully meet the GACE, GPA and core requirements for the certification track may be considered for the non-certification track on a case by case basis. The minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3 is required.
Transferring Tracks
Prior approval is required for a teacher candidate to transfer between campuses and/or program delivery options.
Non-Certification to Certification Track
Upon approval, non-certification track students may transfer to the certification track by the end of their first or second semester of program enrollment. Students must submit a transfer track form and meet all the current criteria for admission and progression into the certification track. Transfer from non-certification to certification track occurs on a space available basis.
Once accepted to the certification track, the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work will request a Pre-Service Certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) for the prospective candidate. The decision to issue the Pre-Service Certificate resides solely with GaPSC. If a student cannot obtain a Pre-Service Certificate, acceptance into this program will be revoked.
Certification Requirements
Upon receipt of the MGA Official Transcript with the degree awarded and earning passing scores on the following assessments, the Teacher Education Program will recommend the candidate for certification.
- Appropriate GACE content exams (003G & 004G)
- Clinical II Key Assessment
- Georgia Educator Ethics Exit Assessment (360G)
The decision to issue the Certificate of Eligibility resides solely with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. (Not applicable to non-certification candidates.)
ESE Probation Policy
The Department of Teacher Education & Social Work reviews each teacher candidate’s record at the end of each semester. When a teacher candidate’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.75 (non- certification 2.30), the teacher candidate will be placed on probation within the Teacher Education Program. The office of the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work will inform the teacher candidate and the candidate's advisor of this action in writing.
Placement on probation means that the teacher candidate is scholastically deficient and is continuing his or her education with the understanding that he or she must improve the level of work and meet the conditions of probation set by the Teacher Education Program. Teacher candidates on probation shall meet with their academic candidate’s advisor to devise a plan of action to be approved by the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work to include minimally monthly meetings with their academic candidate’s advisor/course instructor.
The teacher candidate will be removed from probation in the Teacher Education Program if he or she is making satisfactory progress at the end of the probationary period. The office of the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education & Social Work will inform the teacher candidate and candidate’s advisor of this action. If a teacher candidate has not met the terms of satisfactory academic progress at the end of the probationary period, the teacher candidate will be dismissed from the Teacher Education Program. A teacher candidate who is dismissed from the Teacher Education Program may choose to petition the Dean of the School of Education & Behavioral Science.
ESE Dismissal Policy
Failure to meet progression requirements will result in dismissal from the Teacher Education Program. Behaviors that are grounds for removal from the program includes, but are not limited to: confidentiality breaches, harassment, low disposition ratings, absenteeism or tardiness, malpractice/negligence, failure to follow Teacher Education Program or field/ practicum/clinical site policies and procedures, failure to fulfill responsibilities, or other activities that the supervisor deems unsafe or inappropriate. Ongoing patterns of unsafe/unprofessional behavior may be grounds for dismissal from the Teacher Education Program.
Behavioral concerns may be addressed through the Office of Student Affairs of Middle Georgia State University.
Code of Ethics Violations
Pre-Service Certificate holders are certified individuals, and they are expected to uphold the Code of Ethics for Georgia Educators. Both Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) and school districts are equally responsible for reporting suspected violations of the Code of Ethics to GaPSC. All educators are mandated reporters and are required to report alleged misconduct. For the educator, failure to report could result in a sanction of the educator’s certificate, and for an EPP, failure to report could impact the EPP’s approval status.
ESE Re-Entry Policy
Teacher candidates who meet all present criteria for readmission to the ESE Teacher Preparation Programs must reapply. Prior to readmission, certification track teacher candidates must hold a valid Pre-Service Certificate.
PROGRAM OF STUDY -
Last semester of the ESE program - Replace the general elective with Content Area Literacy.