Assessment

Overview

The College of Education and Social Work (CESW) has designed and implemented an Assessment System aligned with its conceptual framework and professional, state, and national standards. This system enables the collection and analysis of data on candidates, faculty, mentor teachers, clinical and field placements, Professional Education Unit Assessments, and all programs leading to certification as teachers and other school professionals.

The Unit Assessment System consists of multiple measures/activities. The measures provide evidence of:

  1. the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions by candidates,
  2. the effectiveness and efficiency of operations of the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services,
  3. the qualifications of Unit faculty to teach, engage in scholarly activity, and participate in service; and
  4. the institution and Unit structures of governance, budget, and physical space used by the Unit to fulfill its mission.

CESW Assessment Feedback Form

Professional Education Unit

The Professional Education Unit (PEU/"Unit") at West Chester University includes all programs culminating in a teacher education degree and/or Pennsylvania teacher certification.

The Unit is proud to be accredited, recognized, and approved by national and regional accrediting bodies, professional organizations, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This level of recognition is clear evidence of the Unit’s ability to prepare candidates with the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions they will need to be successful and effective educators.

A critical element of any accreditation or program recognition process is assessment. The Unit maintains a sophisticated quality assurance system that allows us to measure the performance of candidates and the effectiveness of the Unit’s operations.

PEU Assessment Data

Unit Programs

Initial-Licensure Programs

Advanced-Level Programs

Program Assessment

Educator Preparation Programs in the Unit have an obligation not only to measure the performance of their Candidates on performance indicators from the Unit Conceptual Framework using Unit Assessments, they have an obligation to measure program specific goals or performance indicators, against specialized professional association and Pennsylvania Department of Education standards. Maintaining a culture of continuous improvement implies devoting regular attention to the process of collecting and analyzing assessment data for the purposes of identifying program and Unit strengths and areas of need and acting to make improvements in the areas of need.

Unit Assessments

The Unit Assessments (measures of Candidate performance) include:

  • Certification exams,
  • Professional Dispositions,
  • Lesson plans,
  • Student Learning Objective plans,
  • Danielson Framework for Teaching Evaluations,
  • Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) 430 Forms ,
  • Benchworks Teacher Education Exit Assessment (TEEA) Surveys, and
  • Alumni surveys for Initial-Licensure and Advanced-Level Educator Preparation Programs.

These assessment measures reflect the Unit performance indicators from the Conceptual Framework that guides all WCU Educator Preparation Programs. Department Chairs and Assessment Coordinators can view Unit- and program-level assessment data in Tk20 using these instructions .

Unit Assessment Software System

The Unit uses Tk20 as an online assessment software for documenting student learning outcomes and clinical experiences. Data collected in Tk20 is used as evidence to prove the Unit is meeting CAEP standards. Data collection through Tk20 is an ongoing process and demonstrates the Unit's long-term commitment to continuous improvement.


Assessment Resources

The following are documents and links to University, state, and national resources focused on the assessment of Educator Preparation Programs.

Unit Assessment Handbook (Currently being revised and will be available upon completion)

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) 430 Form

CAEP - Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

AACTE - American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education

PDE - Pennsylvania Department of Education

MSCHE - Middle States Commission on Higher Education

MSCHE at WCUPA


Council of Professional Education

The Council of Professional Education (CPE) is a shared governance organization for the Unit at West Chester University. It's use of a consensus model for operating the Unit to determine all major curricular and policy issues, rather than using a majority rule voting model, is unique. Membership is representative of all programs within the Unit and includes faculty, staff, and students. The CPE, working with the Executive Committee, standing committees, and forums:

Purpose

The CPE, working with the standing committees and forums, shall be to:

  1. monitor and revise, as necessary, the Conceptual Framework for the Educator Preparation Programs;
  2. monitor professional education policies and program practices to ensure responsiveness to educational needs and for conformity to institutional guidelines and to state and national standards;
  3. recommend to the Educator Preparation Programs Head (Dean of the College of Education and Social Work) the approval or non-approval of any new professional education program that affects more than one College, any change to a professional education program that affects more than one College, any course proposal that affects more than one College, and any new academic policy or change to an academic policy within the Educator Preparation Programs that affects more than one College (all such proposals will go to CAPC with the recommendations from both CPE and the Unit Head);
  4. assist the Educator Preparation Programs Head in developing, revising, and implementing policies within the Educator Preparation Programs;
  5. recommend to the Educator Preparation Programs Head approval or non- approval of any new non-academic policy or change to a non-academic policy affecting solely the Educator Preparation Programs and affecting more than one college;
  6. provide a forum for discussing and resolving issues affecting the Educator Preparation Programs;
  7. monitor the Unit assessment process and instruments, analyze the data and results from the Unit performance assessments, and review/recommend plans for Unit improvement;
  8. monitor program assessment processes and review/provide feedback for program assessment reports;
  9. encourage the development of improved approaches to professional education;
  10. be a primary mechanism for the dissemination of information relevant to professional education;
  11. coordinate field experience requirements within the Educator Preparation Programs;
  12. assist in monitoring Candidate dispositions; and
  13. assist in monitoring Act 48 credits.

Officers & Staff

CPE Facilitator

The Facilitator is an elected officer of the CPE, who shall be a faculty member from one of the Education Preparation Programs. The Facilitator may not be from the same College as the Associate Facilitator. The Facilitator may not serve as consensus-determining or advisory member of the CPE during their terms of office.

The duties of the Facilitator shall be to:

  1. set the agenda for the CPE meetings;
  2. facilitate the meetings of the CPE;
  3. certify that a quorum is present before conducting official business at all the CPE meetings;
  4. record and transmit CPE’s recommendations and rationale concerning curriculum and academic policy proposals;
  5. serve as a liaison between the CPE and the Educator Preparation Programs’ Unit Head;
  6. appoint the members of and determine the charge of ad hoc committees, subject to the affirmation or modification by the CPE; and
  7. oversee work of the Associate Facilitator and Secretary.

CPE Associate Facilitator

The Associate Facilitator is an elected officer of the CPE, who shall be a faculty member from one of the Education Preparation Programs. The Associate Facilitator may not be from the same College as the Facilitator. The Associate Facilitator may not serve as consensus-determining or advisory member of the CPE during their terms of office.

The duties of the Associate Facilitator shall be to:

  1. oversee the collection and distribution of documents to come before the CPE;
  2. collect and monitor the reports and minutes of all committees and forums of the CPE;
  3. work with the Secretary of the CPE to ensure the accuracy and prompt distribution of the agenda and minutes of the proceedings of the CPE;
  4. oversee the keeping of rosters of CPE consensus, committee, forum, and advisory-members; and
  5. perform the duties of the Facilitator in their absence.

CPE Secretary

A member or members of the university staff shall be appointed by the Educator Preparation Programs' Unit Head to serve as Secretary for the CPE. The Secretary will serve until the Educator Preparation Programs Unit Head appoints a replacement.

The duties of the Secretary of the CPE shall be to:

  1. attend and take minutes at all meetings of the CPE;
  2. type the minutes of the CPE meetings;
  3. work with the Associate Facilitator of the CPE to ensure the accuracy and prompt distribution of the agenda and minutes of the proceedings of the CPE to all faculty members of the Educator Preparation Programs, to all Deans of the University, and to all advisory members of the CPE who are not faculty members in the Educator Preparation Programs; and
  4. keep records of minutes, correspondence, and transactions of this body and its committees and forums.

Membership

Consensus-Determining Members

Consensus-determining members are those members who may answer when the Facilitator asks CPE whether consensus has been reached. These members will be chosen by their constituencies using whatever means each area determines is appropriate. The ten consensus-determining members are:

  • One member from Early Grades Preparation;
  • One member from Middle Grades Preparation;
  • One member from Secondary Education;
  • One member from Special Education;
  • One member from Literacy;
  • One member from Educational Foundations and Policy Studies; and
  • One member from Counselor Education;
  • One member from the Department of Languages and Cultures;
  • One member from the Department of Music Education; and
  • One member from the College of Health Sciences
 

Advisory Members

Advisory members are responsible for attending the meetings of the CPE and expressing their views on any issue. They do not have the right to answer when the Facilitator asks whether consensus has been reached. The advisory members of the CPE are the following:

  • Unit Head of the Professional Education Unit (CESW Dean);
  • CESW Associate Dean of Curriculum and Accreditation;
  • Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services;
  • CESW Assessment Specialist;
  • Director of Professional Education, Certification, and Compliance;
  • Director of the CESW Technology Center;
  • CPE Standing Committee Members (Non-consensus-determining or advisory members of CPE);
  • One member from any program in the Educator Preparator Programs whose consensus-determining representative on the CPE is from another department/program;
  • One member from the College of Sciences and Mathematics; and
  • One member from the College of Arts and Humanities.

 

Committees & Forums

Assessment & Accreditation Committee

Purpose

The Assessment & Accreditation Committee shall:

  1. monitor the Unit assessment process and instruments, analyze the data and results from the Unit performance assessments, review and recommend plans for improvement of the assessment process/instruments and of the Unit;
  2. monitor program assessment processes; review program assessment reports and provide feedback to the CPE;
  3. advise the CPE about relevant state standards and policies, national accreditation standards, and any changes or proposed changes to these standards and policies;
  4. collaborate with the Unit Head in preparing and coordinating national and state accreditation efforts;
  5. publish appropriate information for candidates on appropriate platforms; and
  6. submit all minutes and a yearly report to the Associate Facilitator of CPE.
 

Consensus-Determining Members

  • CESW Associate Dean of Curriculum and Accreditation;
  • CESW Assessment Specialist;
  • CESW Data Specialist;
  • Four members from the CESW; and
  • One member from an EPP outside of the CESW; and
  • Additional consensus-determining and advisory members may be appointed by the CPE Facilitator.

Field Experience Committee

Purpose

The Field Experience Committee shall:

  1. assist the Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services in developing relationships with school districts for student placements;
  2. monitor field placements to assess the quality of our candidates’ educational experiences and their opportunities to work in diverse settings and with a diverse population of students;
  3. assist the Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services in developing and carrying out plans for informing mentoring teachers about our conceptual framework, policies, and assessments;
  4. evaluate the activities assigned and the number of hours of field experience in the Unit’s educational programs;
  5. publish appropriate information for candidates on appropriate platforms; and
  6. submit all minutes and a yearly report to the Associate Facilitator of CPE.

 

Consensus-Determining Members

  • Four members from the CESW;
  • One member from an EPP outside of the CESW; and
  • Additional consensus-determining members may be appointed by the CPE Facilitator.

Advisory Members

  • Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services;
  • One undergraduate student;
  • One graduate student; and
  • Additional advisory members may be appointed by the CPE Facilitator.

Act 48 Committee

Purpose

The Act 48 Committee shall:

  1. train committee members in reviewing programs seeking Act 48 credits;
  2. hold at least one workshop a year to support faculty or programs seeking Act 48 credits;
  3. hold at least one annual review of programs seeking Act 48 credits;
  4. submit approved programs to Dean’s office for submission to PDE;
  5. publish appropriate information for faculty on appropriate platforms; and
  6. submit all minutes and a yearly report to the Associate Facilitator of CPE.

 

Consensus-Determining Members

  • Four members from the CESW;
  • One member from an EPP outside of the CESW; and
  • Additional consensus-determining members may be appointed by the CPE Facilitator.

Advisory Members

  • Director of Professional Education, Certification, and Compliance; and
  • Additional advisory members may be appointed by the CPE Facilitator.

Candidate Forum

Purpose

The Candidate Forum shall:

  1. consider the impact and implementation of PDE, CAEP, PASSHE, WCU, and Educator Preparation Programs policies on undergraduate students in the Educator Preparation Programs;
  2. discuss other issues of importance to candidates in the Professional Education Unit; and
  3. forward its suggestions/concerns to the CPE or one of its committees.

 

Members

  • One faculty advisor (from the CPE appointed by the CPE Executive Committee),
  • Two students (undergraduate and graduate) from each of the following programs/departments (selected by their respective programs):
    • Early Grades Preparation,
    • Middle Grades Preparation,
    • Special Education,
    • Literacy Education (Reading Specialist certification),
    • Secondary Education,
    • Educational Foundations and Policy Studies,
    • Health and Physical Education,
    • Music Education, and
    • Counselor Education.
  • One student (undergraduate and graduate) from each of the following programs/departments (selected by their respective programs):
    • Foreign Languages Education,
    • Communication Sciences and Disorders, and
    • School Nurse.
  • Two students serving as CPE advisory members

 

Back to top of page.