Students who plan to take EDU498 Practicum - English (9-12) beginning
January 2000 are advised of the following major changes approved
at all levels of the college governance structure:
1 "Beginning Spring 2000, no student may be approved as a secondary
education minor or for any program leading to teacher certification
unless they have passed the communication and literacy portion
of MECT, have an over-all 2.75 college GPA and a 3.0 in their
content major." This means students planning to take EDU335 Spring
semester 2000 are also immediately affected.
2. Anyone enrolled in Secondary Education Methods Course and/or
intending to student teach in Spring 2000 is required to take
the MECT communication and literacy portion on October 23, 1999.
"All students must pass this component before entering student
teaching."
If you registered for EDU335 English Methods in spring semester 1999 you were already informed about parts of #1 above. You will need a 3.0 in your English major courses and a 2.75 GPA in all your courses combined.
Number 2 above further details this MECT requirement, giving a new requirement to be eligible for admission to the program. It appears that the secondary methods course is the equivalent of Education majors "junior block." The letter you received from Drs. Hamilton and Lapkin stipulated: "There is now a college requirement that candidates for admission to an education program leading to certification must receive a passing grade on the communication and literacy portion of the MECT to be eligible for admission to the program" (Drs. Hamilton and Lapkin, letter dates August 23, 1999). You must take the Communication and Literacy Portion of the MECT before you can undertake either EDU335 or EDU498. These changes have been approved and are in place.
This has an immediate impact on you, academically and financially. Those of you intending to student teach in Spring 2000 need to register immediately for the Comprehension and Literacy portion of the MECT examination. Those of you intending to take EDU335 in the Spring semester 2000 likewise must take and pass this portion of the exam before you can register. I recommend that you also register for the next MECT.
The MECT Comprehension and Literacy Examination will be administered on Saturday, October 23, 1999. Registration booklets are available in the Office of Certification and Student Teaching located in the Graduate and Continuing Education Office (1st floor, Sullivan Building). To be able to take the October 23rd test your registration materials must be postmarked by Friday. September 10, 1999. You must also inform Dr. Denise Littlefield, Certification Officer, that you have registered for the test. It is strongly recommended that you take only the Communication and Literacy portion of the MECT on the testing day. You can take the content examination at a later time.
Please understand that no one will be allowed to student teach or stay in EDU335 Spring 2000 semester without meeting all these requirements. Contact Professor Prochilo for immediate assistance if needed (mprochilo@aol.com or 1-978-542-6275).