The Teacher Certification Process at College of the Atlantic is based on the assumption that the study of human ecology is good preparation for teachers.  We believe the critical challenge in preparing educators is to provide a program that will equip students to teach in an increasingly complex society.  Human ecology, rather than a specific body of knowledge, is a way of thinking and seeing interconnection in the world.  Teacher education based on the study of human ecology encourages teachers to explore the relationships and connections between separate disciplines and to bring such interdisciplinary thinking into their classrooms.

The objective of the Teacher Certification Program is to produce professional teachers: educators who are well-versed in the subject matter they teach, skilled in the methods of classroom teaching, and able to perceive and meet the needs of individual students.  The human ecological focus of this program is seen as a way of meeting the educational needs of a complex society by defining, understanding, and expressing the problems that have to be solved in order to secure a livable human future.

MISSION STATEMENT
The Educational Studies Program aims to develop creative, knowledgeable, collaborative, and critically reflective educators who will bring intellectual passion and ecological wisdom into their teaching.  To this end, students engage in a self-designed, interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizing early and on-going experiences in both formal and informal educational settings.  
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Certification authorizes an individual to teach in a specific certification area in Maine public schools.  COA is currently approved to certify teachers in the following areas: elementary classroom (Grades K-8), Secondary Science (Grades 7-12) , secondary Social Studies (Grades 7-12), and Secondary English/Language Arts (7-12).  Students wishing to be certified in other areas should seek advice from the Director of Education Studies.  Qualified students are awarded a provisional certificate to teach in Maine, which can then be upgraded to a five-year professional certificate after two years of classroom teaching with the support of a trained mentor teacher.  Currently, Maine has a reciprocal agreement with 42 other states that recognize Maine teacher certification.   Complete information on reciprocity is available in the Educational Studies Resource Room.

A student who desires to become certified should begin academic planning early, ideally by the second year.  The student should choose a member of the Education Studies Faculty or Staff as a member of his or her permanent Advising team to assist in course selection in the preparation of application materials for committee review. 

Students seeking certification must undergo yearly transcript analysis through the Educational Studies Office for the purpose of academic planning and evaluation of student progress through the Program.  In addition, all students seeking certification are expected to attend regularly scheduled Teacher Certification Program meetings that address program policy changes, certification requirement updates, PRAXIS and professional conference information and practicum opportunities.  There are two distinct areas of course work required of students seeking teacher certification: professional courses related specifically to education, and academic courses related to content areas.

Students who wish to pursue teacher certification must fulfill the following requirements:

• Passing score on Praxis I and II
• No grade below B- for all courses satisfying certification requirements, including content courses.
• 80 hours of early and ongoing practicum experiences
• Formal Portfolio review one term prior to student teaching
• 15 weeks of Student Teaching and participation in Mock Interview
• Final Portfolio review after student teaching

Students are responsible for submitting their transcripts, and application for initial teacher certification with the $100 fee directly to the Certification Division of the Maine Department of Education.

PRAXIS I and II

The State of Maine requires that individuals seeking teacher certification must pass the PPST (Pre-Professional Skills Test) or the PRAXIS I.  The PPST and the PRAXIS I and are given three to four times a year at the University of Maine at Orono.  Testing dates, registration booklets, and practice test booklets are available in the Educational Resource Room.  Students must take the PRAXIS at the next available date after deciding to take the certification pathway.  Students should be sure to have test scores sent to both the State of Maine certification office and COA's Educational Studies Program. 

Students are required to take the appropriate content Praxis II (7-12 ELA, Life Science or Social Studies, or elementary education) prior to the Final Portfolio Review. The Praxis Study Guides for all tests are available in the Educational Studies Resource Room.

Passing scores for the tests are as follows: