Admissions Requirements for Undergraduates

The following information explains the minimum program requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program, as well as the application process.

• Earned at least 60 credit hours
• Successful completion of 12 credit hours of Teacher Preparation coursework (Introduction to Education, College Algebra, Human Development & Learning, and Exceptional Learners)
• Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended (request transcripts to be mailed directly to the Teacher Preparation Program, Attn: Dr. Paula Mason)
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Currently enrolled in good academic standing
• 750 Word Essay

Admission Requirements for Post Baccalaureate Candidates

The following information explains the minimum program requirements for post baccalaureate admission to the Teacher Education Program, as well as the application process.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Completion of Paul Quinn College Transfer Student Application, if you are not a recent Paul Quinn College alumni.
• Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended (unless PQC alumni)
• 750 Word Essay

National Criminal History Mandate

A criminal background check is conducted prior to issuance of any certificate. From the Texas Education Agency, “TEA conducts a national criminal history check on all applicants for certification. Texas Education Code (TEC) §22.0831 states "The board shall review the national criminal history record information of a person who has not previously submitted fingerprints to the department or been subject to a national criminal history record information review." For more information, see the Texas Education Agency website at https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/investigations/national-criminal-history-checks-faqs.

Right to Request a Preliminary Criminal Background Check

The Texas Education Agency conducts a national criminal history check on all applicants for certification via fingerprinting. You may request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter regarding the potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense. TEA will provide a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation (PCHE) for a non-refundable fee of $50. This evaluation is voluntary and non-binding.

Please be advised participation in the PCHE process does not exempt you from submitting to a national criminal history background check at the time you apply for your educator certification. For more information see the Texas Education Agency website.

Conviction of an Offense

If you are convicted of an offense your teaching certification may be impacted. The Texas Education Agency states, “Criminal histories are evaluated on a case by case basis by considering the following factors:

• the nature and seriousness of the crime;
• the relationship of the crime to the purposes that certification is required to become a professional educator;
• the extent to which certification might offer an opportunity to engage in further criminal activity of the same type as that in which the person previously had been involved;
• the relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties of a professional educator;
• the extent of the applicant's past criminal activity;
• the age of the person when the crime was committed;
• the amount of time that has elapsed since the person's last criminal activity;
• the conduct and work activity of the person before and after the criminal activity;
• if the person has completed the terms of their probation or deferred adjudication;
• the evidence of rehabilitation; and
• other evidence, including letters of recommendation.”

Dismissal from the Program

Candidates who have been admitted into the Teacher Education Program must continue to meet all criteria required for admission throughout their course of study. The program will monitor GPA, course grades, professional and dispositional behaviors, and other program expectations. Failure to maintain the standards of academic performance and failure to demonstrate skills, behaviors, and dispositions specified by the program may result in dismissal from the program.

A candidate may be dismissed from the program based on one or more of the following:

I. Failure to maintain at least a 2.75 Cumulative GPA Failure to make progress towards completion (evidenced by inactivity and/or no contact with the program for one year or more)

II. Unprofessional Conduct to include: a. Violation of the Texas Educator’s Code of Ethics b. Falsification of information/documentation and/or plagiarism c. Failure to follow Paul Quinn College/School District/Campus directives and policies d. Insubordination to Paul Quinn College Program Faculty or Staff/School District Staff/Campus Staff e. Failure to address requirements of the Program or School District

Supply and Demand of the Education Workforce in Dallas/Ft. Worth

A teaching career provides stability and benefits while allowing you to impact the world. Starting salaries in N. Texas are just above $50,000 a year with health and retirement benefits. Many teachers interview and receive preliminary offers before graduation. You can review more information about the teacher job market in Dallas/Ft. Worth at https://dallasftworth.teach.org/salary-benefits

Program Performance

The PQC Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Texas Education Agency. All teacher candidates pass all required TEXES exams before assignment to student/clinical teaching. Program performance for the past five years (candidate exam pass rate) is as follows:

• 2015-2016 75%
• 2016-2017 100%
• 2017-2018 No Testers
• 2018-2019 No Testers
• 2019-2020 100%

Program Completion

As a teacher preparation candidate, you are responsible for completing all of the coursework on the respective degree plan AND the following program requirements:

• Field Experience: In-School Observations: Teacher Preparation candidates are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of in-school observation hours under the supervision of a certified classroom teacher. The hours are to be completed over time, leading up to clinical teaching. Fifteen (15) of the hours must be completed by conducting tutoring, small group instruction, etc. Documentation of completion of the 30 hours must be submitted to the Teacher Education Program Coordinator to be filed for official record keeping. Keep a copy of your observation logs for your own records (will be a required component of your portfolio).

• TExES Certification Exam: Teacher Preparation candidates are expected to register and pay to take the Pedagogy & Professional Responsibility Exam (PPR EC-12), Content Exam, and Science of Teaching Reading Exam (EC-6 Candidates) portions of the TExES after scoring 85% or above on practice tests, but prior to clinical teaching/internship. The goal is for candidates to have passed all exams prior to Clinical Teaching/Internship. Note: Candidates are allowed five attempts for each TExES certification test and must request approval from the Teacher Education Program for each attempt on a certification exam.

• Clinical Teaching/Internship: Post baccalaureate candidates have the choice of completing Clinical Teaching (traditional Student Teaching) or a one-year Internship. Candidates are cleared to enroll in clinical teaching/internship once all other program requirements, including passing all certification exams, have been successfully completed. Clinical teaching lasts a minimum of 14 week and mirrors the regular school day and calendar. Clinical teachers are not compensated. Candidates are expected to arrange other responsibilities such as employment, sports, campus activities, family obligations, etc. around the clinical teaching experience so there is no interference. The one-year Internship lasts for two full semesters, the candidate is teacher of record and paid as a classroom teacher. Both options require scheduled observations and feedback sessions conducted by the Field Supervisor/Program Coordinator.

Recommendation for Texas Certification

To be recommended for certification, the student must:

• Be officially Admitted to the Teacher Education Program;
• Successfully complete all required academic courses;
• Successfully complete all required professional field experiences (i.e. – in school observation hours);
• Maintain program GPA requirements of 2.75
• Pass all required TExES exams.

Please keep in mind that Paul Quinn College can recommend you to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for Texas Teacher Certification, however, the final authority to confer the teacher certificate rests with the State Board for Education Certification (SBEC). SBEC will issue the teaching certificate after their review of the candidate is complete. SBEC will require the candidate to submit to, pay for and pass a criminal background check prior to any certificate being issued. From the Texas Education Agency, “TEA conducts a national criminal history check on all applicants for certification. Texas Education Code (TEC) §22.0831 states "The board shall review the national criminal history record information of a person who has not previously submitted fingerprints to the department or been subject to a national criminal history record information review." For more information, see the Texas Education Agency website at https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/investigations/national-criminal-history-checks-faqs

Complaints Process

• Level 1: To address any complaint or concern, the initial step is to communicate with the instructor, staff member, or professor with whom you have the concern or hold the complaint. We are here to help you resolve the issue. After completion of the initial level and left unresolved, where necessary, you proceed to Level 2.

• Level 2: File a written complaint with the program coordinator within 15 days of the incident. Within 10 days after filing your complaint, you will receive communication from applicable program staff. If still unresolved at Level 2, and your concern warrants additional support/intervention, you may proceed to Level 3.

• Level 3: Within 10 days of decision at Level 2, you may appeal in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (only after Level 2 processes are finalized.) You will communicate with the Vice President of Academic Affairs and any necessary program staff to resolve your complaint or concern. You will receive a response within 10 days after filing your complaint from the Vice President of Academic Affairs. After you have conferred with the Vice President of Academic Affairs and your concern warrants additional resolution/intervention/support, you may proceed to Level 4 and include the written correspondence and steps documenting you have completed the three prior steps.

• Level 4: Within 10 days of decision at Level 3, you may appeal in writing to the President of the College. The President and any necessary program staff will examine, address, and/or resolve your complaint or concern within 10 days of receipt where all information, details, and files are complete to evaluate the issue. If you have conferred with the President and desire additional support, you may proceed to Level 5 which includes an external process.

• Level 5-External Process: After completion of all prior steps, for certification programs only, you may file a formal complaint with Texas Education Agency www.tea.texas.gov. All complaints filed with the TEA must be in writing. TEA will not accept complaints by phone or complaints that are submitted anonymously. A person or entity may file a written complaint with TEA by filling out the complaint form online or by mailing or faxing a hard copy to the address on the form. You may fax your submission to (512) 463-9008 or email it to generalinquiry@tea.texas.gov. Please note TEA will examine whether you have made contact within the university levels first

More Information

For more information about the Teacher Education program, please contact Dr. Paula Mason, Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, via email at pmason@pqc.edu.