Admission To Educator Preparation Programs

(1) Candidates for admission to a baccalaureate-level educator preparation program shall, at a minimum, meet the following criteria: (a) A minimum postsecondary grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 at the time of admission to the EPP; (b) A qualifying score on the Praxis Core, ACT or SAT assessment defined in the State Board’s Educator Preparation Policy; and (c) Supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-5-5610. (2) Candidates for admission to a post-baccalaureate educator preparation program shall, at a minimum, meet the following criteria: (a) Evidence of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDOE); (b) A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 from a completed baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree program or a GPA of 3.00 in the most recent sixty (60) credit hours earned at a regionally or nationally accredited college or university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDOE); (c) Supply a fingerprint sample and submit to a criminal history records check to be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-5-5610; and (d) For admission to programs that include job-embedded clinical practice, a degree with a major in the specialty area or qualifying scores on the required content assessment defined in the State Board’s Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy. EDUCATOR PREPARATION CHAPTER 0520-02-04 (3) Candidates for admission to an ILPP shall, at a minimum, meet the following criteria: (a) Have successfully completed an educator preparation program and hold a valid teacher license from Tennessee or from a state other than Tennessee; (b) Have at least two (2) years of qualifying education experience as defined by the Department; (c) Have demonstrated effectiveness as an educator in the most recent two (2) years as evidenced by a state-approved evaluation model or similar measure for educators employed in schools that do not utilize a state-approved evaluation model; (d) Have demonstrated leadership potential in accordance with guidelines developed by the Department; and (e) Be recommended by an LEA and participate in an interview conducted by a program admissions committee. (4) EPPs may establish additional or more rigorous admission requirements than the state minimum requirements, provided they are in compliance with all state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. (5) To admit candidates on appeal, EPPs must submit an admissions appeal procedure process to the Department for approval. If the Department denies an admissions appeal procedure process, the EPP shall not admit candidates on appeal. Each EPP with an approved admission appeal procedure shall report to the Department the names, academic qualifications, and basis on which candidates were admitted on appeals each year. (6) Each EPP shall report to the Department each candidate admitted to the educator preparation program and identify each candidate admitted on appeal.