Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Title 92 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Chapter 24 - CERTIFICATE ENDORSEMENTS
Section 92-24-003 - Definition of Terms

003.01 American Sign Language (ASL) means a natural language indigenous to members of the American Deaf Community, with its own culture, literature, and linguistic structure.

003.02 Approved Endorsement Program means endorsement programs approved pursuant to 92 NAC 20 or any endorsement program approved in any other state or country pursuant to standards comparable and equivalent to 92 NAC 20.

003.03 Board means the Nebraska State Board of Education.

003.04 Certification Officer means a faculty or staff member designated by the chief academic officer or unit administrator of each standard institution of higher education with an approved educator preparation program to receive correspondence regarding this chapter from the Department and to provide certified records, transcripts, reports and/or recommendations to the Department, as required, for the purpose of certification and/or endorsement.

003.05 Clinical experiences means those that are characterized by careful planning, stipulated goals, required activities, projected performance levels and evaluation of growth. Examples of clinical experiences are microteaching clinics, unit teaching associated with a methodology class, and skill clinics. Activities not meeting the criteria for clinical experiences include general observations, voluntary community service, orientation visits, teacher aiding, and periodic visitations to educational settings.

003.06 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.

003.07 Commissioner means the Nebraska State Commissioner of Education.

003.08 Content Test means a Praxis Subject Assessment or School Leadership Series test published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) of Princeton, NJ for which a passing score requirement has been established by the Department.

003.09 Credit hour means the equivalent of 15 instructional class periods of 50 minutes or more. Semester hour has the same meaning as credit hour.

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

003.11 Endorsement means an area of specialization indicated on a certificate or permit issued pursuant to 92 NAC 21 signifying that the individual has met specific requirements contained in this chapter.

003.12 English as a Second Language (ESL) means a program designed to serve students whose dominant language is not English to become proficient in English through instruction predominantly provided in English to the students.

003.13 Field (used as a descriptor of an endorsement) means two or more subjects which, considered as a single area of study, represent a wider and broader scope than that of a subject.

003.14 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.

003.15 Internship means an experience supervised by a qualified professional who holds a certificate or permit or has qualifications comparable to that of a certificate or permit holder. The internship provides opportunities to practice and demonstrate the knowledge and skills of the specialization area in a setting that is similar to the setting in which the candidate intends to work. Internship differs from student teaching in that it is only applicable to graduate level and supplemental endorsements.

003.16 Passing Score means a scaled score on a Praxis Subject Assessment Series or School Leadership Series subject content test as established by the Department.

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

003.18 Prekindergarten means the preschool years for children beginning at age 3 prior to entering kindergarten.

003.19 Regular Certificate means an initial, standard or professional certificate as defined in 92 NAC 21.

003.20 Semester Hour means the equivalent of 15 instructional class periods of 50 minutes or more. Credit hour has the same meaning as semester hour.

003.21 Standard institution of higher education means any college or university, the teacher education programs of which are fully approved by the Board or approved in another state pursuant to standards which are comparable and equivalent to those set by the board.

003.22 Student teaching means a full time, directed teaching experience conducted in a school setting that provides supervised opportunities to practice and demonstrate over a continuous, extended time period (as required by 92 NAC 20) the unique knowledge and skills of teaching in the endorsement area(s).

003.23 Subject (used as a descriptor of an endorsement) means a specific course or narrow range of courses taught and offered in a school.

003.24 Supplemental (used as a descriptor of an endorsement) means an obtained by meeting the requirements of this chapter and which may be added to a certificate in the presence of other endorsements which may or may not be specified.

003.25 Teaching experience means employment as a certified employee for the instruction of students in an approved or accredited school.