Credential Recommendation

8.1 Credential Recommendation Process

The Education Department continually monitors candidates' progress toward credential recommendation and makes key decisions about moving forward at three milestones:

  • Time of Admission. One of Westmont's most important assessments of an individual's aptitude for success occurs before admission to the program. Personal interviews and professional references are carefully considered before we make recommendations for acceptance to the Education Program Advisory Committee.
  • One Month Check. At a bi-weekly department meeting in October, we consider each candidate's initial progress and any red flags. Typically the first programmatic intervention is an interview with the Chair to discuss concerns and identify supports needed for successful progress. 
  • Acceptance into Full-Time Student Teaching. Candidates who successfully complete first semester classes and field placements are officially accepted into full-time student teaching. On rare occasions a candidate is asked to leave the program, written stipulations are made and shared with the candidate. 

When full-time student teaching is successfully completed, the Chair and Credential Analyst are responsible for individually reviewing each candidate's file together and ensuring all final checklist requirements are met prior to recommendation. Only formal, written documentation of all requirements is accepted. All records are securely stored in the individual candidate's file.

8.2 Candidate Progress Monitoring Document

8.3 Description of IDP Process

At the conclusion of student teaching, each candidate has a joint meeting with their cooperating teacher(s) and faculty supervisor to discuss their final evaluation. With joint confirmation that the candidate successfully meets all TPE and student teaching requirements, the Westmont Student Teaching Conference Report/IDP Form is completed and the candidate is informed that this will serve as their Individualized Development Plan that they will take with them into their induction program. 

An overview of the credential recommendation requirements can be found on p.8-9 of the Teaching Credential Handbook and additional details on the process of clearing a credential (including the IDP) can be found on p.48 of the Teaching Credential Handbook.