College of Education

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Dean: Dr. LaVada Taylor

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Education

Programs

Early Childhood Education

Elementary Education

Health and Physical Education

Recreation

Vision

The College of Education prepares, supports, and empowers students to become educational leaders and change agents who transform and improve the lives of others.

Mission

Our mission is to provide quality programs aligned with the principles of social justice and equitable practices supported by wrap-around services that address the needs of students. Scholarly research, advocacy, partnerships and innovation highlight the college’s approach to teaching and learning.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework embraces the College of Education’s mission, philosophy, model and purposes for preparing education personnel and the knowledge bases undergirding them. The initial and advanced programs for teachers, administrators and specialists are designed to reflect these concepts for preparing education personnel. Our conceptual framework reflects a shared vision, set forth coherently, with attention to candidates’ professional commitments and dispositions. It communicates our commitment to diversity, technology and our belief that our candidate proficiencies are aligned with professional and state standards. The conceptual framework applies to both the College’s graduate and undergraduate programs and their candidates. It serves as the model for how the College of Education prepares all candidates to support student learning. This preparation is characterized and distinguished by five core themes: (P) Professionalism, (A) Assessment, (C) Content knowledge, (T) Technology, and (S) Standards. It serves as the model for how the College of Education prepares all candidates to support student learning.

Academic Degree Programs

Initial Licensure Degree Programs

Early Childhood Education with ESL/Bilingual Endorsement, Elementary Education with ESL/Bilingual Endorsement

PreK- 12 Physical Education

All teacher preparation programs have received Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approval for teacher licensure. Students earning the Bachelor of Science in Education degrees in one of the teacher education programs in the College of Education qualify for state of Illinois teacher licensure by entitlement.

Please refer to the College of Education website at: http://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation for more details.

The College of Education also offers graduate doctoral and master’s degree programs and certificates and endorsements. Please refer to the CSU Graduate Student Catalog or the following website for more information: http://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation/.

College Support Services

College of Education (COE) support services are organized into three areas: (1) Office of Clinical Partnerships and Community Outreach (CPCO); (2) Office of Recruitment, Progression, and Support (RPS); and (3) Office of Licensure and Accreditation (OLA).

Office of Clinical Partnerships and Community Outreach (CPCO)

The Office of Clinical Partnerships and Community Outreach is located in ED 322. The primary mission is to provide high-quality practicum experiences for teacher education candidates. This office assists pre-service and student teacher candidates to identify diverse field experiences in urban, suburban and rural settings. A record of each teacher candidate’s field experience is maintained by this office as required by the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition, the office provides a range of outreach services to support recruitment, enrollment and retention.

Additional information is located on the College website at: https://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation/field_experience.htm . You can also call 773/995-2570 or visit us at ED 322.

Office of Recruitment, Progression, and Support (RPS)

Connecting students to the rich resources and opportunities offered at Chicago State University (CSU), the Office of Recruitment, Progression, and Support (RPS) recruits talented undergraduate students interested in a career in education while helping prospective teacher candidates identify and address barriers to their academic success.  Our primary goal is to support student retention in the College of Education as we equip teacher candidates with tools necessary to navigate university life both inside and outside of the classroom and empower our teacher candidates to take personal responsibility and ownership for their academic success.

With the support of professional academic advisors, housed in the RSP, teacher candidates receive one-on-one advisement and have questions answered regarding university policies that influence course scheduling, grading, and meeting the College of Education admission requirements.  Advisors help students understand their degree requirements and implement plans of study to explore all Early Childhood and Elementary Education has to offer.

Office of Licensure and Accreditation (OLA)

The College of Education has the responsibility of recommending students completing an entitlement program for all educator licenses, and for additional endorsements at the time of licensure. No one may be recommended for licensure to teach or supervise in the public schools of Illinois who is not legally eligible for employment and who has not completed all requirements in the approved licensure program, including state licensure tests and compliance with the College criminal background check policy and related state and federal statutes.

All candidates who complete all requirements of a licensure program will receive a recommendation for licensure once final grades and/or degrees are posted and within the compliance recommendations of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, handicap or lack of access to programs.

Early and continual consultation and careful planning are essential for students who are seeking to satisfy educator licensure requirements. Additional information is available by calling (773) 995-2492. https://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation/licensure.htm

Undergraduate University Admissions

All students need to be admitted into the University prior to applying for formal admittance to the College of Education professional course sequence. Information related to the application for admission to the institution and contact information for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is located at https://www.csu.edu/admissions/index.htm or 773/995-2513.

College of Education Admissions

Enrollment in an initial teacher preparation program requires admission to the College of Education as a prerequisite to all teaching methodology courses, student teaching, and other professional education courses in the course listings. Students who meet all admission requirements are eligible to apply to the College of Education for formal admission at the end of the Sophomore Year. Transfer students must seek formal admission at the end of their first semester. Transfer students that are included in an articulation agreement may have their application for admission waived.

Admission Application forms are available on the College of Education website, and can also be obtained from the Office of Teacher Licensure [https://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation/licensure/index.htm], Education Building, Room 208. Contact the Office of Teacher Licensure at 773.995.2492.

Applications for Admission to the College of Education are due at the following intervals:

Admission Criteria

• Academic Record: Admission to the College of Education in a bachelor’s degree or non-degree licensure-only program requires a minimum program GPA of 3.0 in all course work required in the teacher preparation program, either as transfer credit or completed at Chicago State University. Students that do not have a 3.0 GPA can submit a formal petition for exception.
• Character: Admission to the College of Education requires that candidates have no unresolved violations of the COE Professional Code of Conduct and a clear criminal background. Admission to the College of Education also requires a personal reference and a recommendation from the academic department.
• Required Documents:
  • Official Transcripts from schools other than Chicago State University must be submitted as part of the application process.
  • Personal Reference
  • Completed Application Form
  • School Safety Completion Document
  • Response to Request for ELIS account required

Note: The College of Education and Chicago State University are not responsible for changes implemented by ISBE or any other governing agency.

Policies for Post-Baccalaureate Students Seeking Initial Licensure

Individuals who possess a bachelor’s degree and wish to earn an initial teacher license may apply as licensure students for admission to a non-degree (described in this section) program or a master’s degree approved program that satisfies state of Illinois licensure requirements (described in the Graduate Catalog). Students enroll as post baccalaureate students at the graduate level but follow the undergraduate initial licensure program requirements. Please see the Graduate Catalog for more information.

Student Teaching Admissions

Admission Criteria

The teacher education program at Chicago State University has established critical guidelines for student teaching to ensure program integrity and to provide quality educational experiences. All students completing an initial teacher preparation program are required to teach five full days per week for 16 weeks.

To be eligible for student teaching, the student must have:

• been admitted into the College of Education
• signed application form by an Advisor
• attained a minimum GPA of 3.0
• completed all course and departmental prerequisite requirements, including the program-specified number of preclinical field experience hours, a preclinical field practicum and/or internship
• a current tuberculosis test
• documented cleared background check, including fingerprint analysis (and drug testing, as appropriate).
• signed mandated reporter document
• DCFS training evidence
• Field Hours Evidence
• Content Exams must have been passed (January 1st, 2024)
• zero unresolved violations of the COE Professional Code of Conduct

Note: Student Teacher Candidates

MUST REGISTER for the student teaching course section, complete the student teaching application and attend a mandatory student teaching application information session.  Students planning to student teach in the Fall must apply to student teach during the previous semester by the last day of February and attend the March Student Teaching meeting on the fourth Thursday of March. (

Students planning to student teach in the Spring must apply to student teach during the previous semester by the last day of September and attend the Student Teaching meeting on the fourth Thursday of October. (Spring 2024 Student Teaching Applications must be submitted by the last day of September 2023.)

Student Teaching Option for Full-time Substitutes

Full-time substitute teachers enrolled in a master’s degree or non-degree licensure program for initial licensure may qualify for a student teaching option in their own classroom without relinquishing their position or salary if they meet the following criteria:

• Minimum grade point average of 3.0 in each of the following areas: all course work required in the program, the area of specialization or concentration, and professional education.
• Minimum of six semesters of full-time teaching experience with total responsibility for an assigned classroom.
• Classroom assignment matching the area of licensure the semester before student teaching.
• Three positive evaluations of classroom teaching performance (ranking your performance as proficient or above) from the current school principal and one from the campus-based internship supervisor.
• Request from school’s principal for student teaching placement in current classroom and identification of a site-based supervisor.
• Recommendations from two teaching colleagues in the school.
• Professional development outside of course work in the form of in-services, workshops, conferences, and/or membership in professional organizations.
• Portfolio of sample curriculum materials, lesson plans, and an analysis and reflection to demonstrate a meaningful impact on student learning or the learning environment.
• Completion of 50 secondary and 50 elementary field experience hours (by students in K-12 programs only).
• Minimum of 100 field experience hours in public schools if the student teaching assignment is in a private school.

For additional information concerning student teaching or the student teaching option for full-time substitutes, contact the Office of Clinical Partnership and Community Outreach (CPCO) unit in ED 322 or call 773/995-2570.

Policies Regarding Background Checks

Students registered for courses tied to field experiences that require being placed in a school or in direct contact with a minor (birth to age 21), must undergo a background check and be found to be “clear” with no hit record. The Criminal Background Check (CBC) process will access the State of Illinois, FBI Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), Illinois Sex Offender Registry, Illinois Child Murderer, and National Sex Offender Public Website databases. The College reserves the right to enforce compliance mechanisms (such as drug testing) as required by local, state, or federal agencies or entities as set forth by current laws or policies:

Background Check Accurate Biometrics is the contracted vendor for State of Illinois and FBI fingerprint-based background checks.

1. Download and print the CPS Field Experience Background Check Form.
2. The charge for fingerprinting is $53.00 and can be paid by company check, money order, cashier’s check or MasterCard/Visa. No cash or personal checks are accepted. (This is a discounted rate that has been negotiated for CPS student candidates and differs from the rate listed on the Accurate Biometrics website).
3. You will be required to present a valid state-issued photo ID.
4. Bring all materials to any Accurate Biometrics location. Fingerprints are sent directly to the CPS Background Check Team to be reviewed.

PLEASE NOTE: 1. Save your Accurate Biometrics receipt with your Transaction Control Number. 2. Ten days after you register, you will receive an email asking you to upload your Accurate Biometrics receipt. Be sure to complete this step in order to ensure your background check is processed in a timely manner.

College of Education Policies

All College of Education policies can be found on the College of Education policy webpage at: http://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation/

College Level Student Grievance Policy and Procedures

A grievance may arise out of a decision or action reached or taken in the course of official duty by a member of the faculty, staff, or administration of Chicago State University. The purpose of the grievance procedures is to provide a process for an impartial review and to ensure that the rights of all involved parties are properly recognized and protected.

Definition Of “Grievable Action”

A grievable action is defined as capricious, arbitrary, unreasonable, false, malicious or professionally inappropriate sanction, evaluations or behavior.

In the case of alleged sexual harassment or discrimination, students should bypass the College of Education grievance process and consult the Chicago State University Office of Legal Affairs for guidance on filing a grievance. Grievances based on physical or mental ability should be initiated in the Abilities Office.

Timeliness Of Grievance

Students who question the action or decision of a faculty, administrator or staff member (grade dispute, unprofessional behavior, etc.) must make a good-faith effort to resolve the issue within sixty (60) academic calendar days from the time the student became aware of, or could reasonably be expected to have known of the action being grieved. Academic calendar days consist of days which the University is open (excluding weekends and designated University holidays). Issues initiated after this time will not be considered.

The only allowed exception to this timeline is during the summer semester. If (a) a portion of the sixty-day period of filing falls within the summer semester AND (b) the faculty or staff member is on hiatus during the summer semester and not in an official working status during the summer semester, (the period from the last day of the Spring semester until the day before the first day of the Fall semester) is excluded from the time period.

Written Communication Within The Grievance Process

Students must complete a grievance form to begin the grievance process. Documents can be obtained within academic departments or the Dean’s Office. All parties are responsible for providing a functional U.S. mail address, email address or telephone number to receive notifications within the grievance process. Once contact information for correspondence is submitted, it becomes the responsibility of all parties to check that source for correspondences regarding the grievance process. Failure to check for correspondence or failure to notify the department of a change in contact information will not preclude the process of notification and the adherence to timelines. All parties are responsible for retaining copies of all written correspondences within the grievance process.

Departmental Grievance Levels

A grievance can be heard at both the department and college levels. Before a case can be heard by the College Grievance Committee, it must proceed through three prior levels of deliberation. These levels include the following:

Level One: Conference between student and instructor/staff, when practical and if applicable;

Level Two: Conference between student and department chairperson; and

Level Three: Hearing before the Department Grievance Committee.

If circumstances prohibit individuals from beginning the grievance process at level one, a grievant is to begin his/her grievance at the next appropriate level. Examples of this include, but are not limited to faculty unavailability due to retirement or other non-affiliation actions, or if the respondent is a chairperson. It is the student’s responsibility to make an appointment with the faculty or staff member involved to try to resolve the issue.

Once this procedure of due process has begun, the grievant must follow the steps within the departmental grievance procedure. Once the grievance process has begun, the grievant has the responsibility to keep all scheduled appointments and sessions within this process. As the grievant has the opportunity to agree on scheduled appointment dates within the grievance process, missed appointments (outside of verifiable emergencies) at any level within the grievance process will result in a grievance being withdrawn from the process and the grievant may not re-file the grievance at a later time.

1. Level One: Conference between student and instructor/staff

When a grading evaluation or other dispute occurs, students should attempt to discuss with the faculty or staff how the decision was made. This communication can occur in written format (e-mail or regular mail) but a face-to-face meeting is preferred. As far as possible, the student and the faculty or staff should attempt to resolve the grievance at this level. Many times, questions about grades or other decisions affecting the student can best be resolved through communication at this level. If a resolution is found, the grievance process concludes at this level and no further action is needed. If no satisfaction is obtained, either party may request that the matter be escalated to level two of the grievance process. Further, if the staff or faculty refuses to meet with the student to discuss the issue, the student has the right to request that the matter be escalated to level two of the grievance process.

2. Level Two: Conference between student and department chairperson

A request for a Level Two Conference with the department chair should be submitted to the department chair in writing within ten (10) academic calendars days after the date of the Level One conference. This request will occur in the form of a completed and signed grievance form. At minimum, a grievance must contain:

1. Identification of the individual against whom the grievance is directed.
2. The date of the alleged violation.
3. The specifics of how the grievant believes a policy or right was violated.
4. A brief summary of the evidence supporting the allegations and a brief summary of the argument.
5. Information about attempts to resolve the grievance with the faculty or staff and information about the results of those attempts.
6. The proposed resolution to the issue.

Upon receipt of a completed grievance form (obtained from the department), the department chair will send a copy of the grievance to the respondent, requesting a written response. During the grievance process, it is permissible to transmit correspondence related to a grievance by email. However, hard copies of all documents must also be sent by U.S. or campus mail or delivered by hand. Upon submission, if it is determined that the grievance form is incomplete, the student will have ten (10) academic calendars days from the date of notice to modify the grievance form. If the form is not completed within this time period, the grievance will be dismissed and written notice of this action will be provided to the student within ten (10) academic calendars days.

The department chair will meet with the instructor and student for the purpose of clarification as the matter warrants, and in an attempt to arrive at a solution within ten (10) academic calendar days. At the request/discretion of the student or department chair, the person against whom the complaint is made may or may not be present at the initial discussion. If situations warrant, the student may request the presence of a student observer and the department chair may request the presence of another department chair or comparable level administrator observer at the Level Two session. Observers attend this session for observation purposes only. They should not be relatives of the grievant.

A written statement should be submitted to the grievant, respondent, college grievance officer and the office of the dean within ten (10) academic calendar days regarding the outcome of the meeting. If a resolution is found, the grievance process concludes at this level and no further action is needed. If no satisfaction is obtained, the matter may proceed to Level Three for a hearing before the departmental grievance committee.

3. Level Three: Hearing before the Department Grievance Committee

If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the department chair, the student should notify the department chair (in writing), within ten (10) academic calendar days of receipt of written notification of the outcome of the Level Two conference, of the desire to have a departmental hearing on the matter.

A grievance hearing will ordinarily be completed within thirty (30) academic calendars days after the department chair’s receipt of the formal complaint. Should the grievance be brought at a time when this period extends into the summer semester, the hearing committee will attempt to proceed within the set timeline, but if this cannot be accomplished due to summer absences of any involved party, the chair will notify all parties that the process will be held in the beginning of the fall academic semester.

Once an agreed upon date is secured, the department chair shall convene a departmental grievance committee consisting of two faculty members from the department and one student from any program in the college. This committee will function as a standing departmental committee. The department chair shall appoint one of the selected faculty members to function as the hearing committee chair. The selected student must be representative of the same level (or higher) of the program. For example, a graduate student may only serve on the committee within the graduate studies department. One of the selected faculty members should be a content specialist on the presented issue, as applicable.

At this level of the grievance process, legal counsel or guests (outside of pertinent witnesses) are not allowed at the grievance committee hearing. The ordinary rights of the student and instructor or staff will apply, including the right to notice of the hearing; the decision reached; the right to be present at the hearing; and the right to present and inspect evidence. If either party fails to appear for a scheduled hearing, the hearing will still occur and a decision will be rendered.

Hearings will only be rescheduled in the event of a verified emergency, which is determined by the department chair. Documentation may be requested. The initiating party has the option of requesting (in writing to the department chair) that their grievance be withdrawn from the process and may not re-file the grievance at a later time.

The hearing committee chair is responsible for conducting the hearing, including limiting questioning and testimony to relevant issues. The hearing committee shall make all decisions based on relevant evidence submitted as a part of the hearing. A recording or other official record shall be kept of all proceedings in which evidence is presented. Upon the conclusion of the hearing the hearing committee shall decide whether the evidence presented supports the request contained within the grievance. A two-thirds majority shall be considered a decision of the committee. The hearing committee shall forward a written report of its findings to the department chair, the office of the dean and the college grievance officer. Within ten (10) academic calendar days, following the hearing, the department chair should also forward findings and recommendations to the grievant and respondent.

Appealing Through The College-level Grievance Process

The student may appeal the departmental grievance committee’s decision within ten (10) academic calendar days of notification of the decision by submitting a copy of the committee’s decision, a copy of the original grievance form, all pertinent evidence and a letter of dissent to the College of Education’s Office of the Dean. College-level hearings will be held within thirty (30) academic calendar days upon the receipt of all required documentation by the College of Education Grievance Officer. If it is determined that all required documentation has not been received, the student will have ten (10) academic calendars days from the date of notice to submit required documents. If documentation is not submitted within this time period, the grievance will be dismissed and notice of this action will be provided to the student within ten (10) academic calendar days.

At this level of the grievance process, legal counsel or guests (outside of pertinent witnesses) are not allowed at the grievance committee hearing. The ordinary rights of the grievant will apply, including the right to notice of the hearing; the decision reached; the right to be present at the hearing; and the right to present and inspect evidence. If either party fails to appear for a scheduled hearing, the hearing will still occur and a decision will be rendered. Hearings will only be rescheduled in the event of a verified emergency, which is determined by the College of Education Grievance Officer. Documentation may be requested. The initiating party has the option of requesting (in writing to the College of Education Grievance Officer) that the grievance be withdrawn from the process and may not re-file the grievance at a later time.

Specific procedures for the hearing of each case shall be determined by the members of the committee deliberating that case. The composition of the College Grievance Committee shall be:

1. The College of Education Grievance Officer or an administrative representative designated by the Dean of the College of Education who shall chair the committee and convene the committee meetings.
2. Two faculty members or one faculty member and one administrator not from the department involved. Adjunct faculty members will be eligible to serve on the College Grievance Committee at the discretion of the Dean or his/her designated representative.
3. Two student representatives; one from the department involved and the other from another department or program within the college. The student representatives should not be enrolled in any classes of the grievant.
4. The faculty or staff member against whom the grievance is lodged should not be a member of the grievance committee.
5. The student who is filing the grievance should not be a member of the grievance committee.

The College of Education Grievance Officer or an administrative representative designated by the Dean of the College of Education is responsible for conducting the hearing, including limiting questioning and testimony to relevant issues. The hearing committee shall make all decisions based on relevant evidence submitted as a part of the hearing. A recording or other official record shall be kept of all proceedings in which evidence is presented. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing committee shall decide whether the evidence presented supports the request contained within the grievance. A three-fifths majority shall be considered a decision of the committee.

The College Grievance Committee makes recommendations to the Dean of the College of Education within five (5) academic calendar days after the hearing. A decision will be rendered to all involved parties within fifteen (15) academic calendar days after the hearing. The decision rendered from the Dean of the College of Education is final and is not subject to appeal.

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