SPECIAL EDUCATION AND DISABILITY POLICY
META
Metropolitan Educational Training Alliance Alternative Licensure Program for Special Education
Contact: For information that is not answered below, contact Dr. Beth Bader at (804)828-2315 or bbgilson@vcu.edu
What is it?
A Partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University and Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond City school divisions intended to help instructional assistants become special education teachers of children and youth in one of three areas of special education.
What are these three areas of special education? (Your choose one of these areas.)
Emotional Disturbance (K-12)
Learning Disabilities (K-12)
Mental Retardation (K-12)
What academic levels are we talking about?
Since the endorsements areas are for kindergarten through twelfth grade, this program will prepare you to work at the elementary, middle and high school level.
What will I get out of this program?
The commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education has approved this program. Thus, upon completion of this program, you will earn a collegiate professional license in the area you have chosen (see above).
The knowledge and skills necessary to become a highly effective classroom teacher.Take courses as a cohort with peers and colleagues who are also in the META program. (A number of the courses are sections for META cohort members only.)
High quality learning experiences in courses through Virginia Commonwealth University.
As a participant in this program, you will have a school-based mentor.
How long does it last?
Once begun (see prerequisite below), the program entails two summers and two academic years–one academic year of classes and one academic year of on-the-job teaching with seminars. The program consists of seven professional development courses plus two seminars.
Thus, once the program is begun, you will earn a collegiate professional teaching license in 21 months.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Have a contract as an instructional assistant with one of the four school divisions.
Have passed the PRAXIS I test.
Have a written recommendation from the Human Resource Office of the school division where employed.
Have a B.A. or B.S. degree.
Have a 2.80 grade point average (GPA), or a 2.50 to 2.79 GPA with written support from the employing school division for provisional admission.
NOTE: Once admitted into the META Alternate Licensure Program, continuation in the program is at the discretion of the respective META school division and is contingent upon successfully meeting the expectations and standards of said school division.
What prerequisites are required?
Experience (as determined by the Local School Division) in your chosen area (see above) OR the individual will participate in a year long experience in a classroom with students with the exceptionally chosen and will enroll in a practicum for 3 semester credit hours during the second semester prior to entering this program.
How will I be recommended for a license?
Recommendation will be made by the candidate’s local school division for a provisional teaching license upon completion of the 21 hours of professional development courses (taken during the two summers and the first academic year). Later, upon completion of two semester long seminars (thus completing the entire program of 23 graduate level semester hours) the local school division then recommends you for a professional teaching license.
When will program courses be scheduled?
Typically, courses are scheduled during the week at 4:00 or later.
Two classes are scheduled for the (first) Summer semester, two classes are scheduled for the Fall semester, two classes for the Spring semester, one for the second Summer, and one seminar in the Fall and one seminar in the Spring. (The seminars are offered only during the Fall and Spring semesters).
Where will the courses be located?
Classes will meet on the VCU campus or in area schools and may also involve on-line (Web based) instruction.
Who will teach these courses?
Classes will be taught by VCU faculty, local teachers and administrators, mentors or a combination of any of these individuals depending on what instructional competencies are being developed.
What about technology?
The course work will include the teaching of technology skills in combinations with the course content when appropriate.
When does the program begin?
The series of courses in the program always begins in the (first) summer.
When and where do I apply?
Application to and selection for the program typically occurs during the Winter or Spring prior to the beginning of the first summer courses.
Regarding application and selection, you should contact the META representative for your school division.
Dr. Judy Flythe Chesterfield County
Ms. Melissa Stewart Hanover County
Dr. Christopher Corallo Henrico County
Mr. Chester Kelley Richmond City
What are the various programs of study?
There are three programs of study. Based upon the area of your choice, you will need to find the one program of study that pertains directly to you. The three programs, in alphabetical order, are:
Program of Study–Emotional Disturbance Option
Time Course Number and Title Credits
Year 1 (a new cohort will begin each year)
Summer EMOD 500 Characteristics of Students with Emotional Disturbance3TEDU 533 * Educational Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities3Fall EMOD 501 Teaching Students with Emotional Disturbance3TEDU 631 * Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities3Spring TEDU 500 * Language and Reading Disabilities3TEDU 632 Secondary Programming for Students with Disabilities3Year 2Summer TEDU 531 * Collaborative/Consultation Skills for Working with Families and Professionals3Fall TEDU 500 * Seminar I **1Spring
TEDU 500 * Seminar II **1Program of Study--Learning Disabilities Option
Time Course Number and Title Credits
Year 1 (a new cohort will begin each year)
Summer SELD 600 Characteristics of Persons with Learning Disabilities3TEDU 533 * Educational Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities3Fall SELD 501 Methods of Clinical Teaching3TEDU 631 * Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities3Spring TEDU 500 * Language and Reading Disabilities3SELD 677 Transition and Lifespan Issues for Individuals with Learning Disabilities3Year 2Summer TEDU 531 * Collaborative/Consultation Skills for Working with Families and Professionals3Fall TEDU 500 * Seminar I **1Spring
TEDU 500 * Seminar II **1Program of Study–Mental Retardation Option
Time Course Number and Title Credits
Year 1 (a new cohort will begin each year)
Summer TEDU 632 Secondary Programming for Students with Disabilities3TEDU 533 * Educational Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities3Fall MNRT 556 Introduction to Mental Retardation3TEDU 631 * Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities3Spring TEDU 500 * Language and Reading Disabilities3MNRT 560 Curriculum Design for Students with Mental Retardation3Year 2Summer TEDU 531 * Collaborative/Consultation Skills for Working with Families and Professionals3Fall TEDU 500 * Seminar I **1Spring
TEDU 500 * Seminar II **1_____
* Indicates a “cohort” class that all META cohort members would take at the same time.
** After completing all required courses, seminars are taken concurrently with on-the-job teaching during the second year.
What are the IMPORTANT RULES that I will need to know and to follow?
Specific courses (or course sections) are offered for META participants. META participants must take only META specified courses (or course sections).
All META courses (and course sections) will have the following restriction on them:
Restricted to META Special Education Cohort only
META participants must sign up for those courses (or course sections) only.
The above insures that the group of META participants “travel” through the program as a cohort. Courses must be taken in the sequence and times prescribed. Students who do not take the prescribed courses at the prescribed times are at risk of losing their META participant standing. Further, signing up for the wrong course or course section will incur additional cost that the student will have to bear.
Once my school system has notified me of acceptance into the program, how do I register as a new student at Virginia Commonwealth University?
To register, you must contact VCU’s SOE Associates Office in the School of Education. Call (804)828-1322 or soea@vcu.edu
What is a continuing student?
Continuing students are those students who have taken a class in any previous semester and are already on VCU’s student information system.
Where do I find the courses or course sections that I need to take?
Off-Campus course information can be found on the Web. Go to: www.soe.vcu.edu/soea
Then click on “Off-Campus Courses”
What about other information?
Other information, such as policies regarding withdrawal from classes, getting transcripts, etc. can be found in the sources listed below. Both the Schedule of Classes and the Graduate Bulletin can also be found online.
VCU Schedule of Classes
This Schedule of Classes is available online only and provides initial information on courses. These schedules are available prior to the semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer) that the courses are offered. Please remember to rely on the SOEA website for specific information.
VCU Graduate Bulletin
Available at www.vcu.edu click on Academics & then Bulletins.
How do I register?
Go to www.soe.vcu.edu/soea click on Registration & General Information, print the Off-Campus Registration form & process as instructed.
Where do I go for help once I am accepted into the META program at VCU?
For questions regarding course materials and course content, contact the instructor for that course.
For advising, once accepted into the program, see the following list of university advisers based upon area.
If your chosen area is emotional disturbance, you should contact:
Dr. Kevin Sutherland kssuther@vcu.eduIf your chosen area is learning disabilities, you should contact:
Dr. Joseph Boyle jrboyle@vcu.eduIf your chosen area is mental retardation, you should contact:
Dr. Colleen Thoma cathoma@vcu.edu
What about additional educational possibilities?
For full and additional information, contact a university advisor.
Participants in the Richmond Metropolitan Alternative Licensure Program for Special Education Instructional Assistants will be able to count certain hours from the META program toward the requirements for a master’s degree in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Fifteen semester credit hours of these graduate courses with a grade of “B” or better will be accepted towards the Master of Education in a special education degree program in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Further, the “Language and Reading Disabilities” course may be counted as a prerequisite for a course in the Master of Education program.
All course work for the masters degree must be completed within five years of the beginning of the first course taken.
Where are commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education competencies met?
Course #, Course name, Competencies *
Emotional Disturbance Program of Study Option
EMOD 500, Characteristics of Students with Emotional Disturbance, 2,3,6
TEDU 533, Educational Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities, 3,1,6
EMOD 501, Teaching Students with Emotional Disturbance, 4,3,6,7,8,9
TEDU 631, Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities, 7,2,3
TEDU 500, Language and Reading Disabilities, 5,3
TEDU 632, Secondary Programming for Students with Disabilities, 8,1,4
TEDU 531, Collaborative/Consultation Skills for Working With Families & Professionals, 1,6,2,8,9
TEDU 500, Seminar I, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
TEDU 500, Seminar II, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Learning Disabilities Program of Study Option
SELD 600,Characteristics of Persons with Learning Disabilities, 2,3,6
TEDU 533, Educational Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities (same as above)
SELD 501, Methods of Clinical Teaching, 4,3,6,7,8,9
TEDU 631, Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities
TEDU 500, Language and Reading Disabilities
SELD 677, Transition and Lifespan Issues for Individuals with Learning Disabilities, 8,1,4
TEDU 531, Collaborative/Consultation Skills for Working With Families & Professionals
TEDU 500, Seminar I
TEDU 500, Seminar II
Mental Retardation Program of Study Option
MNRT 556, Introduction to Mental Retardation, 2,3,6
TEDU 533, Educational Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities
MNRT 560, Curriculum Design for Students with Mental Retardation, 4,3,6,7,8,9
TEDU 631, Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities
TEDU 500, Language and Reading Disabilities
TEDU 632, Secondary Programming for Students with Disabilities
TEDU 531, Collaborative/Consultation Skills for Working With Families & Professionals
TEDU 500, Seminar I
TEDU 500, Seminar II
* 1 = Overview of exceptional children; 2 = Characteristics; 3 = Psychoeducational assessment;
4 = Instructional programming; 5 = Language development;
6 = Research policies (including legal aspects and technology trends); 7 = Behavior management/social skills;
8 = Career education (including transitioning); 9 = Consultation
Competencies in bold are emphasized.
Training Opportunities Providing Financial Assistance
