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Evaluation

Standards of Progress, Evaluation and Recommendation for Certification

Students are expected to demonstrate continuous and steady progress towards completion of their course. Failure to submit more than two assignments by due dates or to function satisfactorily in a practicum position will result in filing of notice of academic concern. If students do not fulfill the plan made at such time by agreed upon dates, they may be dismissed from the course.

Evaluation of the student's academic performance is made by the faculty member in charge of that curriculum area, in consultation with the Director. Assignments (in-class tests as well as year-long projects, and written and practical exams) will be evaluated on quality, completeness and the extent to which they demonstrate students’ mastery of the MACTE course competencies for their level. A student’s understanding of the material will be evaluated also by participation in class activities. Work which does not meet an instructor’s standards for quality and completeness will be returned to be redone and submitted another time. Students who do not submit assignments will not be allowed to take exams. Additional penalties in the form of late fees will be imposed for work which is submitted late or incomplete and for taking exams outside scheduled times.

In the practicum phase, student evaluation is based on informal and formal observations by the field consultant, written evaluations by the head teacher and the student teacher's self-evaluations. Each faculty member is responsible for determining satisfactory completion of the work assigned and will recommend the successful student to the Director for certification. Only upon successful completion of all summer and workshop sessions, all assignments, a fully approved practicum experience, and payment of all fees will a student be recommended for certification.

Time Limits

Students are expected to complete all course requirements--academic, practicum, and financial-- within two years following the official end of the academic phase for which the student was enrolled or certification will be denied. If students elect to pursue completion at a later date they will be required to pay additional fees and will need to re-enroll in courses that were not completed.

Student Records

All records are kept confidential. Faculty members keep the records for each student for their course until the student has completed their requirements. Active and graduate files are maintained by Kristen Richter at the MEIPN office. The American Montessori Society maintains records of students who have been granted credentials. Students may have access to their records by submitting a written request to the director. Copies of credentials must be obtained from the American Montessori Society.

University Credit

Students who wish University credit for the MEIPN course may arrange this early in the summer academic phase. Five or ten credits of 900 level professional development credits are available through Seattle University.  These credits are an optional, extra-cost part of the MEIPN program. Cost in 2008 was $35.00 per credit hour.

Please note that the option to take the course for credit is offered only at the beginning of each course; it is not possible to grant credit later in your career for the programs already completed.

Auditors

MEIPN classes are open to auditors providing space is available and advance arrangements are made with the Academic Coordinator and an entire course component is audited. The fee is $125 per day, books are not provided. Auditing half days or partial sections of a course is not allowed. Auditors are not eligible for Seattle U credit.

Continuing Professional Development

To facilitate the continued professional development of our graduates, we allow them to attend any of our courses at their level of certification at no charge. Contact the Academic Coordinator or the Director to make arrangements.

Attendance Policy

The nature of Montessori teacher education programs is such that a great deal of material must be covered in a short period of time. The presentation of materials, the discussions that help students relate Montessori's writings to classroom practices, and other parts of the experience of the summer academic phase are simply not easily "picked up" from notes of other students. Instructors will be busy preparing materials for their next teaching assignment and will be unable to spend time with students who have missed a session. Because of this, full attendance at all class meetings is required. Late arrivals will disrupt the work of the instructor and your classmates, so please arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled class time.

Any absences or noticeable late arrivals will require notification of the teacher along with a written proposal for making up missed time. A pattern of late arrivals or more than three class days absent will require a conference with the Director and attendance at the following year’s course to make up the content missed.

This will be at the student's expense, at a cost equivalent to that year's tuition, prorated for the number of days. Recommendation for certification can be withheld for failure to attend the full course. This applies to the practicum phase as well, where excessive absences will jeopardize both the student teacher's progress and the children in the class. Student teachers can be asked to leave the placement site and the program in cases where either site personnel or MEIPN Practicum Coordinator are dissatisfied with the student teacher's progress.

Dismissals

Students are expected to maintain a mature and professional attitude, as shown by their behavior during both the academic phase and the practicum phase. Faculty members have been instructed to give clear feedback to a student whose behavior is unlikely to result in his/her mastery of the material, or is interfering with other students' learning.

In the event that a student seems unable to meet the standards of progress and participation common to post-secondary professional instruction, the student will be asked to meet with a Director to discuss withdrawal or dismissal. Dismissal will usually occur only after the student has failed to meet criteria listed in a performance improvement plan that includes issues to be addressed and a time frame for addressing them.

Some examples of cause for dismissal include: lack of commitment to the training demonstrated by any of the following: inattention, late arrivals or absences, inability to interact with faculty or fellow students in a respectful manner, inability to grasp the concepts presented, failure to complete satisfactory work on time, or failure to maintain professional conduct and attendance during the practicum phase. A student who violates safety regulations, interferes with other students' work, is disruptive, obscene, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or does not make timely tuition payments is subject to immediate termination. Refunds at dismissal will follow the schedule shown on the Enrollment Agreement.

Grievance Policy

The student who feels that he or she has a legitimate complaint should first bring it to the attention of the person involved, such as an instructor, the practicum supervisor (in the case of a problem with the conduct of a head teacher or a Director (in the case of a problem with a more general nature.)

If discussion at this level does not resolve the problem, the next avenue is submission of a written statement outlining the complaint to a Director, followed by a face to face meeting. The Director may wish to involve other parties in the discussion of the perceived problem. If the problem is not resolved to the student's satisfaction, she or he may request a formal grievance hearing. A student representative (elected by the group) the Director, and the person(s) concerned will be invited to discuss the matter. Students who still feel that they have a grievance have the right of appeal to the Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, 128 Tenth Avenue SW , PO Box 43105, Olympia, Washington 98504-3105 (360/753-5673).