Teacher Education Outreach Programs

Teacher Education Outreach Programs offers professional education programs that lead to recommendation to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for residency teacher certification in the state of Washington. These programs integrate studies in Elementary Education, Special Education, and across eight additional disciplines, including math, science, health, and physical education.

The course work is offered in a prescribed sequence with evening classes, and daytime practicum work. Upon successful completion of all required coursework for the major, the professional studies core, and internship, students will receive a teaching certificate with endorsements in elementary and special education.

The Woodring College of Education vision fosters community relationships and a culture of learning that advances knowledge, embraces diversity, and promotes social justice. This vision establishes the educational values that guide the College and the Teacher Education Outreach Programs. The programs, designed to prepare thoughtful, knowledgeable, and effective educators for a diverse society, offer courses and certification sequences at Western Washington University program sites in Bremerton and Everett. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the site office closest to them for information on program offerings that meet their individual needs.

Information

Individuals interested in Teacher Education Outreach Programs can obtain general information from the website, wce.wwu.edu/teop/teacher-education-outreach-programs.

Inquiries should be directed to the site you wish to attend. Bremerton, 360-475-7269; Everett, 425-405-1646.

Teacher Education Outreach Programs

BA in Education (Education for Inclusive Environments major) leading to a teacher certificate endorsed in elementary and special education
Special Education (P-12) additional endorsement (certificated teachers only)
Elementary Education additional endorsement (certificated teachers only)

Certification

The Washington Administrative Code specifies the requirements for earning a Washington state teacher certificate. State-approved preparation programs and certification requirements align with Washington State K-12 Learning Standards, and require candidates to demonstrate that they have made a positive impact on student learning. First-level residency certification programs are designed around the standards of foundational knowledge, effective teaching and professionalism. Teacher certificates are issued by the state, upon the recommendation of the regionally accredited college or university where the candidate completed a state-approved preparation program.

State requirements for teacher certification at the time of completion of a student’s program will supersede those outlined in this catalog. These changes may affect the time it takes for a student to complete the teacher education program.

Residency Teacher Certification

The first-level residency certificate is awarded to new teachers upon the completion of these general requirements:

A baccalaureate or higher-level degree from a regionally accredited college or university
A state-approved, performance-based teacher preparation program that includes preparation in an endorsable subject area, teaching methodology, and an internship
Evidence of good moral character and personal fitness
Candidates for residency certification must pass a content knowledge test, and if applicable, ACTFL proficiency tests to earn an endorsement.
- According to WAC 181-78A-300, you may not begin your full-time student teaching before you have attempted at least one qualifying endorsement content test. Woodring teacher candidates must attempt a qualifying endorsement content test* prior to entering their full-time student teaching internship. If official scores are not available to us prior to the start of the full-time internship, candidates must provide evidence of attempting a content test in the form of an unofficial score report to CertOffice@wwu.edu.
- For current information on test requirements, registration, fees, and test dates and locations, refer to the Content Test Resource website, wce.wwu.edu/cert/content-test-resource-site.

The first-issue residency certificate has no defined expiration date. It is valid until the teacher completes at least 1.5 years of successful teaching experience accumulated over a minimum of two years in a state-approved public, private or state-operated education program. A three-year residency certificate is then issued by the state.

Endorsements

An endorsement identifies the subject matter in which a teacher is prepared and authorized by the state to teach. One qualifying endorsement is required for residency certification. Courses required for a teaching endorsement and the professional education sequence must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. For information on additional endorsement programs offered throughout the University, contact the Woodring College of Education certification officer at 360-650-6161, Miller Hall 254F.

Program Length

The sequence of study for teacher certification is designed for students who hold a transferable Associate of Arts degree (DTA) from a Washington State community college, or have satisfied Western’s General University Requirements, or have a bachelor’s degree and are seeking certification. Students begin their program in the fall at all sites and move through their programs as a cohort.

Students earning a BA in Education attend class for 8 quarters, including the internship.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must be formally admitted to both Western Washington University and the applicable program. Admission occurs once a year in the fall.

The requirements listed below are minimum application criteria. Enrollment restrictions apply to all teacher education programs. Meeting the following requirements makes the applicant eligible for admission consideration but does not guarantee admission. Students who meet all criteria are further evaluated to determine the most qualified applicants. Students will be evaluated on all information provided with the application, including required copies of transcripts from all prior colleges.

Application criteria:

Transferable associates degree from a Washington State community college or satisfaction of the Western Washington University general education requirements (undergraduate program only).
Bachelor’s degree (post-baccalaureate program only).
Cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher overall college-level course work or over the last 45 credits.
Meet the basic skills requirement. This may be met by: a) Taking the West-B exam, b) SAT scores, c) ACT scores. There is no minimum score requirement for admission. See the Woodring admissions website: wce.wwu.edu/admissions/west-b-requirement and the West-B website: www.west.nesinc.com.
Completion of an English composition course with a grade of B- (2.7) or higher.

Advisement and Orientation

Upon acceptance to the Woodring College of Education, each student is assigned an advisor. At all Teacher Education Outreach Program sites, the advisor is the academic program director. Additionally, all accepted students must attend a required orientation. Students may be dropped from their program for failing to attend the orientation.

Program Continuation

Students admitted to the Woodring College of Education must meet specified requirements throughout the course of their teacher education program in order to remain in the program.

Requirements upon Program Admission

Fingerprinting & Pre-Residency Clearance Certificate as described below under Character and Fitness Woodring College of Education Professionalism Orientation
Woodring College of Education Prevention of Sexual Harassment Training
Woodring College of Education Blood-Borne Pathogens Training

Character and Fitness

The Washington Administrative Code requires applicants for teacher certification to give evidence of “good moral character and personal fitness.” Students provide evidence of character and fitness through two separate but related processes:

A Pre-Residency Clearance through OSPI Instructions for completion of this application will be provided upon acceptance into the program. The application requires candidates to answer questions regarding professional fitness, criminal history and personal conduct. Students with “yes” responses must be cleared by OSPI before participating in any courses that include field experiences.
Washington State Patrol and FBI background checks are completed through a fingerprinting process. Teacher candidates admitted to an Early Childhood Education endorsement program complete a background check through the DEL, and submit the results to OSPI. Procedures and fee information are provided to students upon acceptance into the program.

No student in a teacher education program may participate in a University-sponsored activity in the public schools until cleared by the DCY, Washington State Patrol, or in some cases, investigated and then cleared by the OSPI. Clearances are valid for two years. Students must maintain character and fitness clearance until they have been recommended for a residency teacher certificate following completion of the teacher education program.

In addition to the Washington State character and fitness requirements noted above, students must abide by the Woodring College of Education conduct policies acknowledged in the Student Conduct Requirements and Agreement, which is submitted with program application materials.

General Retention Requirements

Students must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA, beginning with the quarter they are notified of admission. This requirement applies even to quarters where no education courses are being taken. Students who fail to meet this standard will receive a letter advising them that they have been dropped from the program.
Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in both the professional education sequence and in all courses required for the endorsement.
Students must understand and demonstrate a high level of competence in the English language. Those who have difficulty in their verbal and/or written communications should expect to seek remediation before beginning the internship.
Students in a teaching preparation program must complete all certification and endorsement course work prior to the internship.
Students who interrupt enrollment in a teacher education program for more than two consecutive quarters (summer quarter not included) must meet all program admission, completion and certification requirements in place for the quarter in which they expect to return.

Program Completion

To qualify for program completion and recommendation for state of Washington residency certification, students must complete the following requirements and assessments:

A baccalaureate or higher-level degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
A state-approved, performance-based teacher preparation program that includes preparation in an endorsable subject area, teaching methodology, and an internship.
Evidence of good moral character and personal fitness.
Minimum scores set by the state of Washington on a state required content knowledge test for the qualifying endorsement area(s).
Successful completion of the student teaching internship.

Other Departmental Information

Internship

An important experience for teacher certification candidates is the student teaching internship. This internship involves intensive practice in integrating methods, content area knowledge, and classroom organizational strategies.

Candidates are advised not to work during the full-time internship so they may gain maximum benefit from the experience and perform at their highest ability.

The Office of Field Experiences (OFE) is the service agency of the Woodring College of Education that seeks placement for prospective interns. Students apply for their internship around January prior to a fall internship start quarter, or April prior to a winter or spring internship start quarter. Specific dates for informational meetings and application deadlines are published on the OFE website, wce.wwu.edu/ofe/office-field-experiences.

Before commencement of the internship, scores on the state-required content knowledge test for each endorsement must be submitted, all educational endorsement course work and practica must be completed, and fingerprint/character and fitness clearance must be valid.

OFE does not guarantee placements. Placement in a school is contingent upon:

Fulfillment of all program requirements (satisfactory academic work, education and endorsement program course work and training, practica, and faculty recommendations)
Submission of scores on the state-required content knowledge test for each endorsement
Availability of placements and supervision in specific subjects and grade levels
Acceptance by P-12 school personnel
Fingerprint/character and fitness clearance through the point of certification

Students are required to interview with the public school teacher to whom they will be assigned, for final approval of placement. OFE will make every effort to arrange up to three initial interviews but does not guarantee an interview.

Any subsequent placement after a voluntary or non-voluntary withdrawal from an internship will be granted only by faculty recommendation following a case conference.

Candidates must submit an application for an internship placement to OFE prior to the internship. All out-of-area or special placement requests require a petition. Applications, placement locations, petitions, and other information are available in the Office of Field Experiences, Student Services, Miller Hall 256C.