Testing
English Education teacher candidates must take and pass the Praxis II test (English Language Arts: Content Knowledge [5038]) in order to be recommended for certification. We recommend that you take this test in fall or winter of your senior year. More information about the test is available on the ETS website. Many states, including Delaware, also require that teacher candidates pass an externally-assessed portfolio test in order to receive certification. More information about the portfolio test, the edTPA, is available on the edTPA website. While these assessments are independent of UD’s English Education program, our coursework and field experiences will prepare you well with the skills and knowledge you need to meet these requirements.
GPA
The state of Delaware also requires that certain “college-ready” requirements be met by all teacher candidates.UD’s “Entry Into Student Teaching” page has information about GPA/college-ready testing requirements. Should an English Education teacher candidate not meet the university-wide GPA requirement and not be able to pass a college-ready test with the required score, they have the right to appeal to the English Education faculty for a waiver (allowable for up to 10% of the cohort). The intention of this policy is to make allowances for promising teachers to get additional support and to remove barriers for them. This policy is not intended to assist teacher candidates who demonstrate serious academic, dispositions, or other issues. Please note that a waiver for entry to student teaching is not guaranteed.