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Candidates must enroll in the semester for which they have been admitted, or their admission is nullified.  The candidate will need to re-apply and meet the admission requirements for a subsequent semester of intended enrollment. 

Retention in Teacher Education
Once admitted to Teacher Education, a candidate may not be eligible to continue in Teacher Education if the candidate:

  1. Does not exhibit responsible, professional behavior in all classes, field/clinical experiences and interactions with peers and faculty, as judged by the program faculty and/or collaborating teachers and school personnel.
  2. Has unacceptable dispositions exhibited in classes, meetings, and field/clinical experiences, as determined by the program faculty.
  3. Is found guilty of a major violation of KSU’s Student Code of Conduct, Code of Academic Integrity or civil law.
  4. Receives two or more “D” or “F” grades in required lower and upper division courses.
  5. Has a KSU institutional adjusted GPA that falls below 2.50.
  6. Fails to observe or meet the required course and program prerequisites, including field-based teaching methods courses and clinical experiences/internships.
  7. Has their teaching skills and effectiveness judged, by two or more faculty instructors and/or collaborating teachers, to be unsatisfactory.
  8. Fails to adhere to professional growth feedback, formal notifications of areas for improvement, or remediation plans.
  9. Does not satisfactorily complete any field-based classes, i.e. Yearlong Clinical Experience I & II, practicums, internships, etc.
  10. KSU adjusted GPA falls below 2.50 prior to the last clinical experience in the program. (i.e. Yearlong Clinical Experience II).
  11. The GaPSC suspends or revokes the Pre-Service or Provisional Certificate.
  12. Is unable to pass any additional background checks, as required for courses within a candidate’s program of study.
  13. Fails to immediately self-report to the GaPSC and to the Clinical Education Placements & Partnerships (CEPP) Director any arrests or potential violations that occur after a criminal background check has been completed. 

One or more of these deficiencies will trigger a review by the Departmental Academic Standing Committee and The Office of the Dean Teacher Education Appeals Committee, which will determine whether the candidate will be permitted to continue in the Teacher Education program under a professional development plan. Decisions to remove a candidate from the Teacher Education program will be recommended by the committee and approved by the program coordinator, department chair, and the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education. When a candidate is removed from a Teacher Education program, he/she is/they are precluded from entering or transferring into any other Teacher Education program at KSU.

Appeal Process

A formal appeal of a decision to deny admission or retention in Teacher Education may be made to the Office of the Dean Teacher Education Appeals Committee. An appeal must be based on exceptional and extenuating circumstances and/or other pertinent information not previously available or considered. 

A formal appeal must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education within 30 days of being notified of admission or retention status. In all cases, the candidate may initiate an appeal after seeking resolution with the appropriate degree program’s Admissions and Academic Standing Committee or Department Chair or both. 

The Office of the Dean Teacher Education Appeals Committee will provide a decision within 30 days of receiving the appeal. The decision of the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education is final. 

Removal from Field or Clinical Experience

A request to initiate removal of a teacher candidate from a field or clinical experience placement in an undergraduate or graduate teacher education program should be made by the KSU supervisor in consultation with the CT and the Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator, and Director for the Center for Clinical Experiences, Placements, and Partnerships (CEPP). Removal of a candidate from a field or clinical experience placement typically results from a joint decision of the Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator and Department Chair, in consultation with the collaborating teacher, KSU supervisor, CEPP Director, and possibly the school principal. The school principal and collaborating teacher have the ultimate discretion to request removal from the assigned placement. 

When the candidate is removed from field or clinical experience placement prior to the completion of the term, the final grade assigned will be determined jointly by the Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator and Department Chair. 

If a teacher candidate is removed from a placement for unsatisfactory performance, compelling cause, by personal choice, or by a school or school system, the candidate will not be assigned a new placement for that semester. The candidate may appeal this decision following the steps outlined below. Following the results of the appeal process, the candidate may submit a request to be assigned a different placement for the remainder of the term.  

  • A candidate may be removed from a field or clinical experience when any of the following occurs:  

    1. The appropriate school authority (i.e., school principal or CT) states that the candidate’s presence in the classroom is not in the best interest of the school’s students and/or requests that the candidate be removed. In this case, guidance will be sought from appropriate KSU administrators.
    2. The joint decision of the appropriate teacher education program coordinator and department chair in consultation with the Director of Clinical Experiences, Placements and Partnerships (CEPP), Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator, supervising collaborating teacher, and/or university supervisor states that the circumstances are such as to prevent either the development and/or maintenance of a satisfactory learning environment.  
    3. Unprofessional and/or unethical behavior, as defined by the Georgia PSC Code of Ethics  has been exhibited by the candidate.
    4. The candidate has not demonstrated EPP dispositions (i.e., asset-based thinking, collaboration, communication, continuous learning and improvement, integrity and ethics) in a sustained and consistent manner in class, the field, and/or in communicating with personnel and peers at KSU and/or in the field/clinical setting.  
    5. The candidate does not have an active Pre-Service or Provisional Certificate.
    6. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) suspends or revokes the Pre-Service or Provisional Certificate.
    7. Medical reasons make it impossible for the candidate to remain in the classroom. Documentation from the candidate's physician is required. A “release to return to the classroom” will be required to return in a subsequent semester. Decisions pertaining to medical removal will include university administrators, program faculty, and/or health professionals as appropriate.    
    8. Not meeting the objectives by the deadlines set forth in a Professional Development Plan (PDP) focused on the field.
    9. Violating KSU student conduct/ expectations and/or other KSU policies. Such activities may include violating or breaking a law, policy, procedure rule, or a PSC/KSU policy that impacts candidate performance.  

    While this list is thorough, it is not all inclusive. There may be additional reasons for removal from placements. 

    It is important to note that removal from a field or clinical placement is not automatic removal from the program. After removal, the Program Coordinator will determine an appropriate period of remediation, including a Professional Development Plan (PDP) and determine readiness for re-assignment at the completion of the designated PDP. In no case will a candidate be allowed more than two attempts at a clinical experience placement.  

  • If a teacher candidate is removed from any field or clinical experience placement, the candidate can appeal the removal decision.  

    KSU, not the collaborating school, will be responsible for all candidate appeals of a removal decision and the assigned grades in accordance with existing university policies. Candidates may not appeal to return to the same placement site or school district.  

    Request for removal from a clinical experience placement by a school or school system is a serious matter. If a candidate is removed from a placement by a school or school system, he/she/they may not be assigned to a new placement for that semester. A decision of whether a second placement for a semester should be granted will be determined by the process listed below. At each stage of the appeal process, the candidate will receive a formal letter stating the decision and available next steps in the appeal process.  

    1. Documentation of removal issues and rationale for a second placement should be completed by the Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator and forwarded to the CEPP for filing within one calendar year of the date of removal from the placement.  
    2. The candidate submits an appeal of the decision including the rationale for removal and what he/she/they will do to address these issues and to move forward successfully. The Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator indicates whether they support the appeal.
    3. The Department Academic Standing Committee and/or Department Chair review the case to determine if another attempt is warranted. Available evidence may include, but is not limited to, candidate performance on CAPS, observations, course assignments, anecdotal notes, etc. Once a department makes its decision, it should, in its written response to the candidate, let them know about their right to appeal and provide direction on the next step.  
    4. A formal appeal of a decision to deny admission or retention in the teacher education program may be made to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. An appeal must be based on exceptional and extenuating circumstances and/or other pertinent information not previously available or considered. A formal appeal must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education within 30 days of being notified of admission or retention status. In all cases, the candidate may initiate an appeal after seeking resolution with the appropriate degree program’s Admissions and Academic Standing Committee or Department Chair or both. 
    5. The Dean will transmit the appeal and charge the Teacher Education Appeals Board to review the case. The Teacher Education Appeals Board consists of the following individuals:  
      • Associate Dean for Curriculum Catalyst and Innovations
      • Director for the Center for Clinical Experiences, Placements, and Partnerships (CEPP)
      • Assistant Director of the Office of Admissions and Certification (OAA)
      • Director of Bagwell Advising & Student Success Center (BASSC)
      • Faculty Representative from College Faculty Council (CFC)
      • Faculty Representative from Initial Certification Program Coordinators (ICPC)
    6. The decision of the Teacher Education Appeals Board will be shared with both the candidate and Department Chair. The candidate may appeal this decision in writing within 10 business days to the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education.  
    7. If an appeal is not submitted after the 30-day period, the recommendation of the Teacher Education Appeals Board is final.  If an appeal is submitted, the Dean of the Bagwell College will make a final decision within 10 business days. 

    If a candidate is removed from the program, they cannot enter any other teacher education program at KSU. 

  • If feasible, the Program/ Clinical Experience Coordinator, KSU supervisor, and/or Department Chair should schedule a conference with the teacher candidate to discuss the candidate’s position and possible options prior to removal.  

    The following circumstances may warrant moving a candidate to another Collaborating Teacher within the same school or to another school: 

    • Placement with a Collaborating Teacher who does not have a minimum of three years of successful teaching experience, does not hold a renewable certificate in the teaching area, or is not highly qualified in the teaching area.
    • The Collaborating Teacher becomes ill or for any reason will be absent for more than 8-10 consecutive school days or for frequent intermittent school days and the absences constitute a critical gap for the candidate.
    • Other compelling cause as determined by Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator, Department Chair, and KSU Supervisor. 

  • There are supports available to candidates prior to removal from the clinical experience. Anytime throughout a semester that a serious weakness in the teacher candidate is observed which may jeopardize the candidate's final evaluation, the Collaborating Teacher, KSU supervisor, and program coordinator will confer and inform the candidate immediately so that steps may be taken to correct the situation as early as possible. This may result in a professional development plan for which the candidate meets agreed upon benchmarks by specific deadlines to demonstrate improvement. The Program and/or Clinical Experience Coordinator should be consulted before beginning a professional development plan and will collaboratively draft the PDP with the candidate.  

    Upon successful completion of remediation, the candidate may proceed in the program, either with or without a continuation of the plan. Unsuccessful remediation might result in a new PDP, student receiving an “Unsatisfactory” in the course, etc. If it is determined that a candidate would benefit from the support of a PDP, the candidate must sign the PDP to continue in the field experience/program. Not signing the PDP indicates the decision by the candidate not to accept the opportunity for support in professional development and not to continue progressing in the program. 

    A PDP is developed on a case-by-case basis based on the candidate's progression in the program and concerns expressed by the CT, KSU supervisor, and/or coordinator. Rationale for developing a PDP may include but is not limited to: 

    • Unprofessional behaviors
    • Excessive Level 1 or 2 scores on programmatic key assessments, observation instruments, and/or disposition ratings
    • Consecutive Level 1 or 2 scores on programmatic key assessments, observation instruments, and/or disposition ratings