Mission Statement
& Program Outcomes

Mission

We, the faculty of the Special Education Program are committed to supporting the development of teachers who acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to construct effective, high quality educational programs for all children and their families. Our mission is to foster knowledgeable, passionate, competent, and reflective program graduates who will serve as eloquent and articulate advocates for all children, families, and their profession.

Special Education Program Goals/ Performance Outcomes/Standards

Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Candidates

The Special Education Program prepares its undergraduate and post baccalaureate candidates to meet the unit outcomes and standards of the following:

• WCU's Conceptual Framework to meet the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
• The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) which includes knowledge and skills based standards under the following domains: Foundations, Characteristics of Learners, Individual Differences, Instructional Strategies, Learning Environments and Social Interactions, Language, Instructional Strategies, Assessment, Ethics and Professional Practice and Collaboration.
  • The initial CEC content standards may be found at Red book 5th edition.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Education Chapter 49 Program Framework and Guidelines for Special Education (those students beginning programs in Fall 2009 or later).
• The WCUPA Department of Special Education Program Outcomes .

Master Degree Candidates

The Special Education Program prepares its master degree candidates to meet the unit outcomes and standards of the following:

• WCU's Conceptual Framework to meet the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (for these unit outcomes and performance indicators see.
• The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) which includes advanced knowledge and skills based standards under the following domains: Foundations, Characteristics of Learners, Individual Differences, Instructional Strategies, Learning Environments and Social Interactions, Language, Instructional Strategies, Assessment, Ethics and Professional Practice and Collaboration.