The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education Teacher Education Candidate Disposition Assessment Process and Remediation Procedures

Table of Contents I. Disposition Assessment and Remediation Procedure Description 3 II. Revised Disposition Assessment 6 Changes consist of subdividing items and numbering III. Student Signature Sheet 16 Documenting receipt of disposition assessment at Gold Card IV. Syllabus Disposition Statement 17 Proposed Statement to be placed in all CISE Syllabi V. Infraction Reporting Form 18 Instructor Intervention VI. Committee Referral Form 19 Committee Intervention after two infraction reports or a severe infraction VII. Remediation Contract Template 20 Tool used by Disposition Review Committee as deemed necessary VIII. Email Notice to Student Template 21 Attendance at required meeting Student s right to submit additional information 24 hours before meeting Appendix: Current Teacher Education Disposition Assessment 22 2

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education Teacher Education Candidate Disposition Assessment Process Introduction: In accordance with state and national standards, teacher education candidates at The University of Southern Mississippi are assessed on their knowledge, dispositions, and performance. Knowledge assessment occurs primarily through courses and is reflected in course grades and the candidate s grade point average (GPA). Performance is assessed throughout the candidate s classroom practice and practicum. Dispositions are assessed by the assessment process described herein. According to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Model Core Teaching Standards, dispositions are the habits of professional action and moral commitments that underlie an educator s performance. Therefore, a dispositional infraction prompts this process and shall apply to candidates dispositions as reflected in their performance in field experiences and related coursework. All teacher education candidates and faculty will be provided with a copy of the Teacher Education Professional Dispositions and the Infraction Report via the Office of Educational Field Experiences (EFE) and the CISE website. Candidates will be made aware that dispositional infractions will constitute grounds for a decision regarding remediation and/or separation from The University of Southern Mississippi Teacher Education Program. This information will be published and utilized throughout the program. CISE Dispositions Review Committee The Disposition Review Committee (DRC) consists of five Core of Instruction members elected by the CISE Core of Instruction. All members have equal voting status, and each member will serve a two year term. Committee terms will be staggered to insure continuity within the committee. The CISE DRC will be responsible for monitoring candidates folders to determine if Infraction Report Forms have been issued to a candidate on more than one occasion or for more than one specific infraction. (Note: separate Infraction Report Forms completed by different instructors that address the same infraction or related infractions shall be counted as a single form for the purposes of counting as described in the Procedure for Addressing Dispositional Concerns outlined below.) The file containing infraction reports will be kept in the Educational Field Experiences Office and checked weekly by a designated committee member who will notify the other members if committee action is needed. Purpose of the Disposition Review Committee (DRC) The purpose of the DRC is to review reports of dispositional infractions by CISE teacher candidates and make appropriate recommendations. A minimum of three committee members must be present for each dispositional review. The instructor or supervisor submitting the form in question may not serve on the DRC reviewing the dispositional infraction. 3

Procedure for Addressing Disposition Problems: First Dispositional Infraction Report: To bring a report of a dispositional infraction to the attention of the Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education Disposition Review Committee (CISE DRC), all instructors or supervisors will use the Infraction Report Form. Course instructors or supervisors will submit an Infraction Report Form for any candidate who exhibits an infraction with respect to identified Teacher Education Professional Dispositions. A meeting with the course instructor or supervisor and candidate will be held to discuss the initial infraction and develop a remediation contract. A signed copy of the remediation contract will be distributed to the candidate, the course instructor, and filed in the Office of Educational Field Experiences (EFE). Upon successful completion of the remediation plan, the course instructor will annotate the Infraction Report. Failure to successfully complete the remediation plan based on the specified conditions and time frame is possible grounds for dismissal from the teacher education program. Additional Dispositional Infraction Reports: If a candidate receives two or more separate Infraction Reports, the CISE DRC will notify the Department Chair and candidate within 7 school days of the infraction filing to schedule a meeting to discuss specific concerns that need to be addressed. (If notification of an Infraction Report falls at the end of a term, CISE DRC will schedule the meeting within 7 school days of the beginning of the next semester in which the candidate is enrolled.) The Committee may also interview the instructor or supervisor as a part of this process. Up to 24 hours prior to the meeting, the candidate may submit to the CISE DRC, in writing, any additional information they wish to include in the record. The CISE Disposition Review Committee shall consider all information and provide one of three recommendations to the Department Chair within 2 school days: 1) conditional permission to proceed in the program based on a remediation contract, 2) dismissal from the program, or 3) the candidate continues in the program. Failure to attend this mandatory meeting will be considered an egregious violation. Within 2 school days of receiving the recommendation from the CISE Disposition Review Committee, the Department Chair will make a decision on the case and notify all parties involved including the Dean, candidate, and CISE DRC members. If the decision involves a remediation contract, a signed copy of the remediation contract will be distributed to the candidate, the course instructor, and filed in the Office of Educational Field Experiences (EFE). Upon successful completion of the remediation plan, the Acting Chair of the DRC will annotate the Committee Report. Failure to successfully complete the remediation plan based on the specified conditions and time frame is grounds for dismissal from the teacher education program. Egregious Violations of Dispositional Standards A candidate may be subject to expedited dismissal from the teacher education program for an egregious violation of dispositional standards. Examples of egregious violations include, but are not limited to: engaging in illegal or unethical conduct involving minor children, conduct which would be grounds for dismissal from a teaching position, mishandling of private and confidential student information, or serious violations of The University of Southern Mississippi Code of 4

Student Conduct. The initial determination that an egregious violation has occurred shall be made by the Department Chair following consultation with the CoEP Dean and other relevant stakeholders. The Department Chair will notify the candidate that they are suspended from the teacher education program, effective immediately. The Department Chair will then follow the procedure outlined above for convening the CISE Disposition Review Committee within 7 school days to review the evidence and make a recommendation for action. Within an additional 7 school days of receiving the recommendation from the CISE Disposition Review Committee, the CoEP Dean shall make a decision on the case and notify all parties involved including the candidate, Department Chair, and CISE DRC. Appeals Process The student may continue to participate in any campus-based classes in which they are enrolled during the appeal process unless an egregious violation has occurred. However, the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education reserves the right to exclude any student from any field experience during the appeal process. Once the candidate is informed that the Disposition Review Committee has made a decision to dismiss her/him from the Teacher Education program, the candidate has the right to file an appeal. In order to do so, the candidate must complete a Request for Appeal Form. The Request for Appeal Form is found on page six of this document. Appeals must be submitted within five (5) school days of notification of dismissal and may not be made orally. An Appeal Process Sequence and Timeline Form is provided on page seven of this document and must accompany the Request for Appeal Form. Additionally, a student may request a meeting with the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology to discuss the situation prior to submitting a written appeal. The decision of the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology will be final. A student who has been dismissed from the Teacher Education program is no longer eligible to apply to any other education licensure program at The University of Southern Mississippi. However, provided no other University policies have been violated, students who have been dismissed from the Teacher Education program due to dispositional transgressions may pursue completion of another academic program at The University of Southern Mississippi. Professional Dispositions and Remediation Procedures are available at xxxx@usm.edu 5

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education Request for Appeal Form To be completed by the candidate and submitted, along with the Appeal Process Sequence and Timeline Form, to the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology within five days of notice of dismissal. Date of request submitted First name Last name Student ID # E-mail address Mailing address Major Expected date of graduation Semester(s) in which difficulty is noted Explanation for appeal Please provide a detailed explanation about any extenuating circumstances that prevented you from making satisfactory progress in your Teacher Education program. Be as specific as possible and provide supporting evidence by attaching documentation if possible. 6

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education APPEAL PROCESS SEQUENCE AND TIMELINE Candidate Appeals Checklist The candidate should complete the top portion of this form, sign in the appropriate space, attach to the Request for Appeal Form, and submit both forms to the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology within five days of notice of dismissal. Name of Candidate: Major: ID # Date: The checklist below is used to document that the appeal process is conducted in a timely manner according to USM guidelines. Appeal Action Sequence Signature Date Candidate receives notification that they have not met Candidate the requirements to continue in the Teacher Education Program. Candidate completes and submits Request for Appeal Dean (COEP) Form to the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology within 5 school days of notification. Within 5 school days of receiving the appeal, the Chair Chair of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education meets with the candidate to hear the special circumstances of the appeal. The Dean approves one of the following decisions Dean within 5 school days: (1) continuance in the program without conditions, (2) continuance in probationary status, and (3) dismissal from the program. The Dean will notify in writing the Department Chair, Dean candidate, academic advisor, program coordinator, Director of Educational Field Experience, and Associate Dean in the College of Education and Psychology of the decision and any conditions that apply. Dean s Decision Decision Date Condition(s) to be met and additional requirement(s) Deadline for meeting requirement(s) Dean s Signature Date 7

TEACHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DISPOSITIONS STANDARD ONE: CLASSROOM CHARACTERISTICS * (Revised Fall 2015) Criterion Performance Rating Unacceptable Marginal Mastery Exemplary Score 1.1 Candidate is positive, enthusiastic, and optimistic. 1.2 Candidate is patient, fair, and empathetic. 1.3 Candidate is inquisitive and resourceful. 1.4 Candidate places needs of students first. 1.5 Candidate respects individual differences. 1.6 Candidate shows initiative and creativity. 8

1.7 Candidate is dedicated to teaching and learning. 1.8 Candidate demonstrates persistence in helping all children achieve success. 1.9 Candidate exhibits classroom awareness and caring attitude toward all students, faculty, and peers. STANDARD TWO: RELIABILITY/DEPENDABILITY * Criterion Performance Rating Unacceptable Marginal Mastery Exemplary Score 2.1 Candidate is present and punctual. 2.2 Candidate is prepared for classes and field experiences. 9

2.3 Candidate completes assignments in a timely manner. 2.4 Candidate is dependable. 2.5 Candidate is cooperative. 2.6 Candidate knows and follows guidelines in course syllabi, university and school handbooks. 2.7 Candidate exhibits dress and grooming appropriate for setting. 2.8 Candidate is self-directed. 10

STANDARD THREE: COMMUNICATION * Criterion Performance Rating Unacceptable Marginal Mastery Exemplary Score 3.1 Candidate uses appropriate language. 3.2 Candidate demonstrates ability to speak and write with clarity. 3.3 Candidate uses Standard English in writing and speaking. 3.4 Candidate is an active listener. 11

STANDARD FOUR: INTERPERSONAL SKILLS * Criterion Performance Rating Unacceptable Marginal Mastery Exemplary Score 4.1 Candidate shows courtesy and respect for students, teachers, staff, peers, parents, and members of the community. 4.2 Candidate works collaboratively with all stakeholders. 4.3 Candidate demonstrates equitable treatment and respect for others without prejudicial thinking. 4.4 Candidate establishes positive rapport and appropriate relationships. 4.5 Candidate shows sensitivity to all students. 12

4.6 Candidate is committed to diversity. 4.7 Candidate is familiar with different cultures and students with special needs. 4.8 Candidate is open-minded. 4.9 Candidate is supportive and encouraging. STANDARD FIVE: RESPONSIBILITY * Criterion Performance Rating Unacceptable Marginal Mastery Exemplary Score 5.1 Candidate is mature, exhibits self-control, and reacts appropriately under stress. 5.2 Candidate is flexible, adapts to change. 13

5.3 Candidate is able to accept and express different points of view in a professional manner. 5.4 Candidate uses good judgment. 5.5 Candidate accepts responsibility for own actions. STANDARD SIX: ETHICS * Criterion Performance Rating Unacceptable Marginal Mastery Exemplary Score 6.1 Candidate demonstrates truthfulness and honesty. 6.2 Candidate maintains ethical and legal behaviors in 14

interactions with others. 6.3 Candidate maintains confidentiality. 6.4 Candidate respects intellectual property of others by giving credit and avoiding plagiarism and cheating. 6.5 Candidate adheres to ethics and policies of university, schools and profession. STANDARD SEVEN: SELF-REFLECTION AND PROFESSIONALISM * Criterion Performance Rating Unacceptable Marginal Mastery Exemplary Score 7.1 Candidate engages in problem solving and selfevaluation. 15

7.2 Candidate reflects on decisions made concerning students, teaching methods and subject matter. 7.3 Candidate accepts constructive criticism in a positive manner. 7.4 Candidate uses feedback to make improvements. 7.5 Candidate shows a willingness to learn and grow professionally. 16

Student Signature Sheet The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education Teacher Education Program In accordance with state and national standards, teacher education candidates at The University of Southern Mississippi are assessed on their knowledge, dispositions, and performance. Knowledge assessment occurs primarily through courses and is reflected in course grades and the candidate s grade point average (GPA). Performance and disposition are assessed throughout the candidate s classroom practice and field experience. Attached are the dispositions you are expected to demonstrate at all times during your teacher education program and beyond. Read them carefully and keep this copy for future reference. The dispositions and remediation procedures are posted on the USM website at xxxx@usm.edu. I,, received a copy of the dispositions. Print full name Signature of Teacher Candidate Date Note: This page will be attached to a copy of the Dispositions Assessment document, which will be given to the students with their Gold Card. Once this form is signed, it will be detached and placed in the student s file. 17

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education Dispositions Syllabus Statement Teaching requires strong academic preparation and mastery of pedagogy. It also requires non-academic competencies, such as communication and interpersonal skills, which are as critical to success as those in the academic domain. Teacher candidates are required to demonstrate professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in all educational settings. Students who lack appropriate dispositions will enter the disciplinary process established by the CISE Department. Professional Dispositions and Remediation Procedures are available at xxxx@usm.edu Teacher Candidate: Meeting Date: Program Semester: Instructor/Supervisor: 18

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION UNIT STANDARDS and PROFESSIONAL DISPOSITIONS Infraction Report Date of Infraction Disposition(s) Compromised INSTRUCTOR S DESCRIPTION OF INFRACTION TEACHER CANDIDATE STATEMENT 1. In your own words, describe the infraction and the factors that contributed to the situation. 2. State your intended actions for solving the problem: Instructor and Teacher Candidate Agreement REMEDIATION PLAN (Include Timeframe) Verbal Counseling Infraction Report Committee Referral Disciplinary Suspension Counseling dates and details: Failure to improve conduct and/or further violation of teacher education dispositions will result in additional disciplinary action, up to and including suspension. Signing this form does not indicate your agreement with this record but indicates that you have reviewed the content herein. Signature of Instructor/Supervisor Date Signature of Teacher Candidate Date Teacher Candidate: Meeting Date: Program Semester: In Attendance: 19

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION UNIT STANDARDS and PROFESSIONAL DISPOSITIONS Committee Referral Date of Infraction 1. Date of Infraction 2. Date of Infraction 3. Attach copies of all infraction reports to this form. Disposition (s) Compromised Disposition (s) Compromised Disposition (s) Compromised Committee Meeting Notes REMEDIATION PLAN Committee and Teacher Candidate Agreement (Include Timeframe) Verbal Counseling Written Infraction Report Committee Referral Disciplinary Suspension Comments: Failure to improve conduct and/or further violation of teacher education dispositions will result in additional disciplinary action, up to and including suspension. Signing this form does not indicate your agreement with this record but indicates that you have reviewed the content herein. Signature of Committee Chair Signature of Teacher Candidate Date Date Professional Dispositions and the remediation process details are available at xxxx@usm. 20

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education Teacher Education Candidate Disposition Assessment Process Remediation Contract This remediation contract is an agreement between (the teacher candidate) and the CISE Teacher Education Program. It provides you, the candidate, with clear expectations to assist you in successful completion of the teacher education program. This contract is directly aligned with the Teacher Education Disposition document published on the USM website. This remediation contract is the final opportunity for you to align yourself with the teacher education dispositions that you signed upon entry into the program. The following remediation plan stipulates the conditions for remaining active in the teacher education program. Violation of any term of this contract constitutes a dismissal from the program. Remediation Agreement: (teacher candidate) will complete the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. The university has the following resources available to assist you in successfully completing the program: Counseling Center, Writing Center, and Speaking Center. Other: Signature of Committee Chair Date Signature of Teacher Candidate Date Professional Dispositions and Remediation Procedures are available at xxxx@usm.edu 21

Email Notification Template DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION 118 College Drive #5057 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 Phone: 601.266.5247 To: From: Subject: Urgent Meeting Notice You are required to appear before the CISE Disposition Review Committee on at with regard to your professional disposition infractions. The meeting will be held in the J.B. George building Room 106. Prepare for the meeting by completing the following: 1. Respond to this email immediately to signify you have received this notice. If you do not reply in a timely manner, a notice will be served to you in person. 2. Review the infraction reports that you were given when they were filed. You may submit a written report providing additional information relevant to your situation up to 24 hours before the scheduled meeting if you so choose. However, the written report of additional information must be submitted as a reply to this email notice, and the 24-hour advance deadline is final. 3. The Teacher Education Professional Dispositions and the remediation process is available at xxxx@usm.edu 22