Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Title 92 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Chapter 20 - APPROVAL OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Section 92-20-002 - Definition of Terms

002.01 Academic year means the school year which consists of two (2) regular consecutive semesters that occur from fall through spring.

002.02 Advanced program means a program at the postbaccalaureate level for (a) educators who have previously completed initial preparation or (b) the preparation of other school professionals.

002.03 Board means the State Board of Education.

002.04 Candidate means an individual admitted to, or enrolled in, a program for the initial or advanced preparation of educators, or educators continuing their professional development.

002.05 Certificate means a teaching, administrative, or special services certificate issued by the Department pursuant to 92 NAC 21.

002.06 Clinical practice means culminating supervised experiences which provide candidates with opportunities to demonstrate competence in the professional roles for which they are preparing, which includes student teaching and internships.

002.07 Commissioner means the State Commissioner of Education.

002.08 Content test means a Praxis or School Leadership Series test published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) of Princeton, NJ.

002.09 Cooperating educator means an educator employed in a setting utilized for a clinical experience who has the appropriate certification and experiences to perform responsibilities for observation, coaching, mentoring, and/or evaluation of a candidate.

002.10 Coursework means experiences required to complete the preparation program and may include class instruction, field experiences, or other required activities.

002.11 Credit hour means the equivalent of fifteen (15) instructional class periods of fifty (50) minutes or more.

002.12 Department means the State Department of Education, which is comprised of the Board and the Commissioner.

002.13 Diversity means differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, sexual orientation, and/or geographical areas.

002.14 Educator means a holder of a teaching, administrative or special services certificate.

002.15 Educator certificate means a certificate issued pursuant to standards comparable and equivalent to those in 92 NAC 21.

002.16 Endorsement means an area of specialization indicated on a certificate issued pursuant to 92 NAC 21 signifying that the individual has met specific content preparation requirements contained in 92 NAC 24.

002.17 Faculty means all professional education faculty, including adjunct faculty and graduate students, employed by a standard institution of higher education who teach one or more courses in professional education and/or supervise field experiences.

002.18 Field experience means an opportunity for candidates to observe, assist, tutor, instruct, and/or conduct research to develop professional education knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Field experiences include practicum and clinical practice requirements. Field experiences are designed and implemented through collaboration with school partners and faculty and occur in school systems or other settings serving students.

002.19 Initial program means a program at the baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate level that prepares candidates for their first license to teach. They include five-year programs, master's programs, and other postbaccalaureate and alternate route programs that prepare individuals for their first license in teaching.

002.20 Internship means a clinical practice in which candidates practice and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions required for advanced programs.

002.21 Practicum means a field experience completed prior to a culminating supervised clinical practice.

002.22 Professional dispositions means candidate attitudes, values, and beliefs demonstrated in interactions with students, families, educators, and communities consistent with ethical performance criteria contained in 92 NAC 27.

002.23 Professional Education coursework means coursework and field experiences, designed to develop educator competencies including, but not limited to, student development, learning differences, learning environments, content knowledge and its application, assessment, planning for instruction, instructional strategies, collaboration, and ethical practice.

002.24 Professional teacher education program or unit means the school, college, department or other administrative body within the institution that is primarily responsible for the preparation of teachers, administrators, and other school personnel.

002.25 Regional accreditation means a voluntary process by which one (1) of several accrediting bodies, each serving one (1) of six (6) defined geographic areas of the country, accredits PK-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Nebraska institutions are served by the Higher Learning Commission.

002.26 School partner means school systems and other education programs that collaborate with the teacher education program in designing, developing, and implementing field experiences, delivery of instruction, and research.

002.27 School system means an institution that is accredited or approved by the Department to provide instruction at any level PK-Grade 12, including an educational service unit accredited by the Department.

002.28 Special authorization means a process by which Department approval can be granted for a standard institution of higher education to offer a pilot endorsement program.

002.29 Standard institution of higher education or Institution means any college or university whose teacher education programs are fully approved by the Board or by a comparable agency in any other state or country.

002.30 Student teaching means a clinical practice in a school system which provides initial preparation candidates with a culminating supervised experience to demonstrate competence in the professional roles for which they are preparing.

002.31 Teacher education program means the system of procedures, coursework and activities in a college, school, or department of an approved standard institution of higher education which result in the initial or advanced preparation of teachers, administrators, and other school professionals.

002.32 Terminal degree means the highest degree available in a specific field of preparation or recognized by the profession.