Grambling State University Standard 1 Compendium

RA.1.1 Candidates Skills Analysis and Interpretation

The Reading Program of Grambling State University provides a very strong research base that is infused into the course experiences, field- based experiences, instructional strategies, and course assessments. The program prepares candidates to teach literacy proficiently, in the preK-12 classrooms. In preparing graduates for work in P12 and higher education settings, faculty and staff strive to produce candidates and graduates who value academic excellence, diversity, equity, and fairness.

In the core reading courses the goal has been action research and the use of the application of data for effective instruction. Hence, ED 504, ED 505 ED 506 ED 507 ED 581 have assignments that focus on use of research and understanding of qualitative or quantitative action research. In these courses, the use of the data helps candidates to be able to plan interventions and support a literate environment for all students. ED 581 takes into consideration the essence of collaboration, all the courses do emphasize on collective collaboration with colleagues, school administration, parents, and community. Candidates are encouraged to join professional organizations, present in conferences, and attend professional development workshops. All six courses have technology infused into the courses where candidates have to demonstrate the use of some form of digital or media literacy to enhance students learning.

Furthermore, for each of the core courses, faculty members guide and advise and evaluate candidates on dispositions that make them effective literacy leaders. The use of self-evaluation and reflective is done in most if not all the courses. The reading program adheres to these six candidate Knowledge, Skills, and Professional Dispositions. The reading Program was recently nationally recognized with Distinction by the International Literacy Association (ILA). Compliance with ILA’s evidence-based standards embodies the resolute dedication in preparing literacy educators with essential knowledge, skills and professional dispositions.

The M.Ed. in Special Education-Mild/Moderate Program of Grambling State University provides general education teachers with a foundation in special education to allow them be qualified to add initial certification in special education (mild/moderate) to their teacher certificates. ED 549 exposes candidates to research methods, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. Candidates then use knowledge of different research methods to develop mixed method action research proposals to address specific academic or behavioral needs in their classrooms. In ED 545 which follows ED 549, the candidates implement the research, then collect and analyze pre- intervention and post-intervention data to ascertain the effectiveness of the intervention, reinforcing data literacy. Other courses where the skills are addressed are in SPED 527 where the candidates’ skills in data literacy are emphasized by not only assessing a student using formal and informal assessments, but are reinforced by expecting candidates to analyze develop short term plans for their subjects based upon the data. The behavioral intervention project in SPED 543 is to focus on enhancing positive social behaviors and ameliorating or replacing negative behaviors to increase the student’s presence and acceptance in the classroom. In SPED 542 the focus of the observation is to demonstrate how graduate candidates work to improve the overall classroom environment for the student by augmenting methods or materials, or increasing positive behavioral functioning in the classroom. Faculty in the EPP require candidates to engage in collaborative activities with stakeholders and community by requiring them to actively participate in individualized educational plan meetings. Additionally, it is addressed by having candidates demonstrate collaborative co-teaching in the schools. Technology is address through the concentration ranging from electronic research for sources and information to using digital technologies to enhance learning and student collaboration. Candidates are expected to acquire and use knowledge of the laws concerning