I M P A C T Instructional Model to Prepare Adept and Certified Teachers

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I M P A C TInstructional Model to Prepare Adept
and Certified Teachers
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What is IMPACT?

• A one-year rigorous alternative route to special
  education certification for attracting highly
  competent people who possess a bachelors degree
  but initially lack courses in teaching
• A partnership among UNT faculty and surrounding
  school districts to recruit, prepare, and retain
  special educators

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Why Alternative Programs?

• Teacher Shortage
• Math
• Science
• Bilingual Education
• Special Education
• Quality of the Teaching Force
• Educational Reform
• No Child Left Behind
• Department of Education Excellence in Special
  Education Study

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Why Enter IMPACT?

• Teaching is a critically important and rewarding
  profession
• The demand for special education teachers is high
• The teaching profession needs highly qualified
  individuals willing to dedicate their lives to
  serving students from special populations

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What are Key Components of IMPACT?

• Professional Collaboration
• State Approved Curriculum
• Benchmarks to Chart Candidate Progress
• Program Evaluation

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Collaboration with Professionals

• Program Design
• Program Implementation
• Program Evaluation

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Curriculum - Course Work (Special Education
Standards)

• -Special Education Programs and Practice
• -Appraisal of Exceptional Learners
• -Educating Students with Mild/Mod Dis
• -Parent/Paraeducator/Prof Collaboration
• -Reading and Language Arts Strategies
• -Math and Content Area Strategies
• (18 Hours of Graduate Coursework)

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Curriculum - Course Work(Pedagogy and
Professional Responsibility Standards)

• -Practicum/Mentorship Semester 1
• and
• -Practicum/Mentorship Semester 2
• 6 Hours of Graduate Coursework
• (Includes Mentor Network Support Activities)

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Benchmarks

• 1- Acceptance into the Program
• 2- Successful Completion of Coursework
• 3- Satisfactory Fall Teaching Evaluations
• 4- Satisfactory Spring Teaching Evaluations
• 5- Recommendation for Certification
• Effective Teaching and Communication Skills
• Portfolio Evaluation
• Course Competency Exam (SPED)
• Course Competency Exam (PPR)

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Program Evaluation

• Internal Measures
• Course Evaluations by Candidates
• Candidate and Key- Partner Surveys
• Program Satisfaction
• Degree of Teaching Competency
• External Measures
• Teaching Evaluations
• TExAS Examinations

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Admission Requirements

• Earned Bachelors Degree
• Acceptance into the Toulouse School of Graduate
  Studies
• Satisfactory IMPACT Application Form
• Satisfactory Interview with IMPACT faculty
• Admission to Teacher Education
• Signed IMPACT Letter of Agreement

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What is Unique about IMPACT?

• Candidates may enter at the beginning of any
  academic semester
• Coursework consists of 18 hours of classroom
  instruction and 6 hours of teaching/mentorship
  hours
• Candidates must be employed as a Teacher of
  Record during the practicum/mentorship semesters
  to continue in the program

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unique features (continued)

• Coursework can be counted toward graduate credit
• Distance learning formats are available to make
  learning convenient
• Candidates are eligible for one-year Probationary
  Certificate while working in the schools

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unique features (continued)

• Candidates are provided with qualified mentors
  while working in the schools
• A District Mentor
• A University Coach
• University supervision is provided during the
  practicum semesters

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Approximate IMPACT Costs

• Application Fees
• Books and Tuition for 24 hours of university
  coursework
• Special teaching/mentorship fees
• ExCET Examination fees
• Totaling ,5000

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The Application Process

• Apply to Toulouse School of Graduate Studies
• Complete IMPACT Application
• Meet with IMPACT Faculty Advisor
• Apply to Teacher Education

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Who is enrolled in IMPACT?

• 44 candidates entered Maymester 2002
• 49 IMPACT teachers have secured jobs for Fall
  2002
• Degree Sampling
• Psychology, Business, Horticulture, English,
  Kinesiology, Military, Child Development,
  Counseling, Marketing, Audiology
• Age Span 23 - 60

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MORE INFORMATION

• WWW.EDSP.UNT.EDU/IMPACT
• Dr. Joyce Rademacher 940/565-4192
• Dr. Lyndal Bullock 940/565-2937