ELEMENTARY EDUCATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE
February 16, 2012
8:00 a.m.
Steve Brown, Patty Clay, Dr. Jean Dockers, Dr. Gloria Flynn, Dr. Julie Samuels, Dr. Kathy
Spillman and Amber Tankersley attended the meeting. Dr. Ann George attended the
meeting as a guest.
Dr. Marti York was absent.
Dr. Ann George presented the new inclusive education minor that is replacing the special
education minor. The minor is composed of 18 hours, six hours of which are already part
of the Early/Late Childhood and Early Childhood Unified program requirements. If a
student has declared the inclusive minor, they will be allowed to enroll in SSLS 510 or 511
in their sophomore year to coincide with the course sequence. The minor will not lead to
any endorsement or license for special education. However, if a student were to accept a
special education teaching position upon graduation, they would be eligible to apply for a
waiver. If students wish to take courses from the minor program as electives, this would
be acceptable as long as they have completed SSLS 510/511 Overview of Special
Education. The only exception will be SPED 514 as it includes a field experience in a
special education classroom.
Dr. Dockers shared that there are currently two international students enrolled in CURIN
261 Explorations in Education. Both students intend to return to their native country to
teach upon graduation. However, one wants to earn a Kansas teaching license to present to
her country while the other does not want a license from the United States. A discussion
was held on the possibility creating a program for international students who want to earn
an education degree but do not have intention of remaining in the states to teach or
obtaining a United States teaching license.
The committee examined data regarding cumulative and general education core grade
point averages (GPA). The data was collected from students enrolled in CURIN 366
Primary Reading for the fall 2011 semester. A proposal was made for Early/Late
Childhood and Early Childhood Unified majors to meet an additional admission
requirement of a 2.80 cumulative GPA. All present voted in favor of adding this
requirement.
Dr. Dockers shared that the next meeting will be held with area elementary principals. The
goal is to have an open discussion on how to develop a better partnership in preparing
teacher candidates.
Agenda item IV of moving CURIN 307 Clinical Experience to a fall only course is no
longer relevant. After further discussions, it is believed to create new issues rather than
alleviating issues at hand.
Research has been conducted on two companies providing background check services. Of
the two companies, one works directly with the student regarding fees while the second
bills the university for services. The first company will be selected if background checks
are implemented. A short discussion was held on when background checks will be
required from students. The proposal was made for students to submit a background for
admission to Teacher Education as well as admission to the Professional Semester. All
present were in favor.
The announcement was made that all current Explorations students will be interviewed
during the week of April 2nd. The committee was asked to participate in these interviews.
Amanda will send of schedule of the interviews in the near future.
The next meeting will be Thursday, March 15th. The time and location will be announced
at a later date.