Elementary Certification Standards

1. Elementary Certification Standards State Board of Education Approved January 8, 2008

2. Proposed Elementary Certificate Standards • These standards are unique. • They address a total certification program and are needed to reflect and support Michigan’s K-12 Curriculum Framework; Benchmarks; and Grade Level Content Expectations as well as standards adopted by national professional and specialty area associations. • The proposed elementary certificate program standards address what every elementary teacher needs to know about: • core content, and • content-specific pedagogy as they teach in self-contained classrooms.

3. The Full Range of Law and Standards Governing Teacher Preparation • Michigan Law • Administrative Rules Governing the Certification of Michigan Teachers • Entry Level Standards for Michigan Teachers (Proposed Professional Standards for Michigan Teachers inclusive of the induction period) • Elementary Certificate Program Standards • Reading Standards for All Elementary Teachers • Specialty Area Endorsement Standards (for authorization to teach specific content/specialty area in a departmentalized setting)

4. 76-86 credits minimum Proposed Elementary Certificate Standards OPTION 1 Core Subject: The teacher preparation institution must provide student advising that assures candidates successfully accomplish all elements within the option before recommendation for certification. Authorization to Teach Major (30 credits minimum) or 2 minors (40 credits minimum) of the following: • Integrated Science, • Elementary Mathematics, • Social Studies, • English Language Arts, or • Reading Departmentalized instruction in grades K-8, or with specialty knowledge K-12, or birth to age 8, or Grades 6-8. May take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Specialty Area Endorsement PLUS AND Authorization to Teach Must take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Elementary Education A planned program (20 credits minimum) that incorporates the other core content areas beyond the major or 2 minors AND Health, Physical Education, Music, World Language and Arts. Self-Contained Grades K-8 Classroom PLUS Professional sequence (20 credits minimum) these courses are guided by the Entry Level Standards for Michigan Teachers (ELSMT) which address pedagogy and field experiences. Plus the 6 credits of Reading Courses.

5. 91 -101 credits minimum Proposed Elementary Certificate Standards OPTION 2 Comprehensive Major: The teacher preparation institution must provide student advising that assures candidates successfully accomplish all elements within the option before recommendation for certification. Comprehensive Major ( 45 credits minimum) Must include courses in the all of the following: • Integrated Science, • Mathematics, • Social Studies, • Language Arts, • Health, • Physical Education, and • The Arts Authorization to Teach Must take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Elementary Education Self-Contained Classroom Grades K-8 AND PLUS • A minimum of a minor (20 credits minimum) in one of the following: • A World Language, or • A student-centered specialty area: • English as a Second Language, • Bilingual, • Special Education (K-12), • Early Childhood (Birth- age 8), or • Middle Level (Grades 6-8). Authorization to Teach Departmentalized instruction in grades K-8, or with specialty knowledge K-12, or birth to age 8, or Grades 6-8. May take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Specialty Area Endorsement PLUS Professional sequence (20 credits minimum) these courses are guided by the Entry Level Standards for Michigan Teachers (ELSMT) which address pedagogy and field experiences. Plus the 6 credits of Reading Courses.