Candidate Proficiencies

Three overarching purposes guide the programs of the CSU, Chico School of Education. Our programs prepare candidates for:

Effective Practice: to provide meaningful educational experiences to promote achievement of learning objectives for all learners, based on knowledge of content, of learners, and of pedagogy and informed by appropriate assessment and analysis.
Reflective Practice: to continuously reflect on and improve their own professional practice, based on information gleaned from data analysis, experts, peers and research.
Engaged Practice: to collaborate with others; to serve as instructional leaders and team members in their schools, districts, and professional organizations; and to be advocates for students, families, schools, communities and the education professions.

Our mission and purposes are guided by the state and national standards specific to our programs and grounded in the professional literature on the preparation of teachers and other school personnel. The School of Education has formally endorsed a commitment to the following seven conceptual bases that undergird the unit's Conceptual Framework and serve as goals for all programs:

Effective Practice

#1 Subject Matter Knowledge: Candidates demonstrate solid knowledge of and currency in their subject matter/academic discipline and a commitment to continue to expand their depth and range of understandings.
#2 Pedagogical/Professional Practice: Candidates demonstrate a sizeable repertoire of pedagogical/professional practice and select strategies, techniques and technological resources appropriately in relation to the learners.
#3 Diversity: Candidates are knowledgeable about and responsive to the needs of all learners, including linguistically and culturally diverse learners and special populations.
#4 Assessment: Candidates have expertise in the assessment and evaluation of pupil needs and achievements and use data in decision-making.

Reflective Practice:

#5 Reflection: Candidates have learned to reflect appropriately on their professional practice and exhibit evidence of having established a habit of self-examination that results in continual improvement of that practice.

Engaged Practice:

#6 Collaboration: Candidates actively engage in collaborative partnerships with colleagues, parents, community agencies and professional organizations.
#7 Civic Engagement: Candidates promote civic engagement and community partnerships and take an active leadership role in advocating for all learners.

List of Exhibits