In order for RWU students to declare Education as a major, they must present evidence of having met the basic skills requirement as determined by the Rhode Island Department of Education (R.I.D.E.). The basic skills requirement can be met in the following ways:
|Test Name||Passing Score|
|Core Academic Skills for Educators*||
Composite score of 468
with no test score more than
3 points below the cut
1100 Composite (800 Scale Test) with no less than
300 Composite (170 Scale Test) with no less than 151 Verbal and 147 Quantitative
* Effective September 1, 2014, the Core Academic Skills for Educators Exams will replace the Praxis I PPST exams.
Waiver: Candidates applying to a traditional undergraduate program are not required to retake the Core Academic Skills for Educators exam if they have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher by the end of their college sophomore year and are within 3 points of the cut scores on each section of the Core Academic Skills for Educators exams.
On-going Performance Assessment Requirements
The School of Education uses a Performance Assessment System to monitor and evaluate student progress. As part of that system, students develop and maintain an assessment portfolio that is reviewed at each level of the curriculum:
The performance assessment is one of many measures the School of Education uses to evaluate students’ progress toward meeting the Rhode Island Professional Teaching Standards (RIPTS). Matriculation in the program is contingent upon successful performance assessment reviews.
Throughout their programs students plan, develop and experiment with instructional materials and strategies in both the University classroom and public school settings. As students proceed through coursework, they build their performance assessment portfolios, self-assess their pedagogical knowledge and skills and set goals aligned with the RIPTS. Performance assessment evaluations are used to determine whether students are progressing toward meeting the standards and are used to move students from one curriculum level to another. In addition, education students must achieve a GPA of 2.75 or higher to enter Curriculum Level III: Performing in the Classroom.
Field experiences are required in all courses. The Elementary and Secondary programs include a minimum of 100 hours of Practicum and one full semester (14 weeks) of Student Teaching. During Student Teaching, students also enroll in a Student Teaching Seminar.
The State of Rhode Island requires all applicants for certification in Elementary and Secondary Education to pass the state licensure examination(s). Students typically take the licensure examination(s) before or during Curriculum Level III.
*The Educational Studies Major degree does not lead to teacher certification.