Guide to

1. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY Guide to Introduction of the PRAXIS Series

2. Table of Contents Introduction Overview on PRAXIS I, PRAXIS II, ParaPro Assessment & SLS – School Leadership Series Registering for the PRAXIS Exam Creating an Account, Registration via Online & Registration via Mail Frequently Asked Questions Study Material Reference

3. Introduction The PRAXIS Series ETS offers the PRAXIS Series for individuals to receive certification in teaching. The program is broken into various levels of certification: Pre-Professional Para Professional Teacher Certification Principal Licensure Superintendent Licensure

4. PRAXIS I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) PPST are designed to measure basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The reading, writing and mathematics assessments are available in two formats: paper-based or computer-based. Colleges and universities may use PRAXIS I:Pre-Professional Skills Tests to evaluate individuals for entry into teacher education programs. The assessments are generally taken early in your college career. PPST is not required for admissions into the College of Education teaching program at Southeast Missouri State University. Admission into a teaching program at Southeast requires the College-BASE (CBASE) examination. The CBASE exam is available through the Office of Testing Services

5. PRAXIS II: Subject Assessment Subject Assessments measure knowledge of specific subjects that K-12 educators will teach, as well as general and subject-specific teaching skills and knowledge. There are Subject Assessments, Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Tests and Teaching Foundations Tests. Individuals entering the teaching profession take these tests as part of the teacher licensing and certification process required by many states. A number of professional associations and organizations require these tests as one criterion for professional licensing decisions.

6. The PRAXIS II: Subject Assessments Include: • Subject Assessments.These assessments measure general knowledge and subject-specific teaching and knowledge. They include multiple-choice and/or constructed-response test items. • Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Tests.These assessment measure your general pedagogical knowledge at four grade levels: Early Childhood, Grades K-6, Grades 5-9, and Grades 7-12. These tests use a case study approach and feature constructed-response and multiple-choice items. • Missouri certification uses the PLT 7-12 to teach for which no specialty area test or content knowledge test is designated.

7. The PRAXIS II: Subject Assessments Include: • Teaching Foundations Tests. These assessments measure pedagogy in five areas: Multi-subject (Elementary), English, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. These tests feature constructed-response and multiple-choice items.

8. ParaPro Assessment The ParaPro Assessment measures the reading, writing, and math competency of prospective and practicing para-professionals. It also measures the ability to apply these competencies when assisting in classroom instruction. The test is designed to satisfy requirements of the federally legislated No child Left Behind Act. • In Missouri, the ParaPro Assessment is for individuals seeking to be employed as teaching assistants residing in Title I schools.

9. SLS – School Leadership Series The School Leadership Series offers two assessments: The School Superintendent Assessment and the School Leaders Licensure Assessment. The assessments are designed for licensure and professional development for school superintendents, principals and other school leaders. These tests were developed to provide a thorough, fair, and carefully validated assessment for states to use as part of the licensure process for principals, superintendents, and school leaders. These tests reflect the most current research and professional judgment and experience of educators across the country, and they are based on both a national job analysis study and a set of standards for school leaders indentified by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC).

10. Registering for the PRAXIS Exam All PRAXIS tests are registered through (ETS) Educational Testing Services. www.ets.org/praxis ETS has divided the registration procedures in sections under: PrarPro Assessment, PRAXIS I or PRAXIS II and School Leadership Series.

11. www.ets.org/praxis To enter the section for PRAXIS I or II, simply click on the link in the left hand column that states “Register for a Test”. To enter the section for the School Leadership Series, click on the link under “Related Links” and select the School Leadership Series. Then follow the link to register online. Both sections will have you create a profile first before selecting an exam. It is recommended to store the username and password in a safe place for future use. NOTE: If you already have a profile, you can simply click on “Sign-In” to login in either section to select a new exam.

12. Creating Your Account In your account, you can update your password, security question, order exams or score reports and print your registration ticket. For new accounts, you will enter information in the required fields, which is displayed in two parts.

13. Create Your Account: Part I of 2 • Part one includes entering personal information: Name, Date of Birth, Gender, and Email Address. Before continuing to the next page, make sure the information provided is correct. NOTE: ETS will confirm your account and send registration information to the e-mail address provided in your account.

14. Create Your Account: Part 2 of 2 • Part two includes creating a Username, Password, and Security Question. • Once you have completed Part I and II, you will be asked to complete your personal information, which includes providing a social security number, address and phone number.

15. Enter Identifying Information Social Security Number – This field is optional for ETS. However, some states require a social security number (SSN) in order to process certification paperwork. Check with your state’s requirements to see if the SSN is required on the test score report. • Missouri DESE requires SSN's to be listed on materials submitted for certification.

16. Enter Contact Information It is required to enter your Country/Location, Address, and Primary Phone. All other fields are optional. When you continue from this page, you must adhere to the PRAXIS terms and conditions. Please refer to the current PRAXIS Bulletin for the most accurate information on fee payment and score reporting.

17. Registering for the PRAXIS Exam There are nine steps to complete when ordering a PRAXIS exam. NOTE: No stand-by registrations are available. You must register either online or by mail.

18. Step One: Select a Test Find a Test. There are three ways to find a test, Search by Certifying State or Agency, Search by Test Name or Code, and View All. It is highly recommended to perform a search by certifying state or agency. This option allows you to identify the state and select a state agency. When you begin the search, it will bring up a list of PRAXIS Exams for that state agency.

19. Step One: Select a Test NOTE: ETS offers multiple tests for any given subject. Not all tests apply to each state. To ensure you are selecting an approved certifying test for Missouri, it is recommended to visit Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website. DESE will list all test(s) associated to a particular certification. http://dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/teached/praxis.htm

20. Step One: Select a Test The available list allows you to select the exam(s) needed for state certification. The list provides the Test Name, Code, Session, Reporting Time, Duration, and Price. You may select one or more tests in this field. Your Test(s): Before continuing, your selected test(s) will appear along with the Session, Report Time, Duration, and Price. NOTE: If you have scheduled two one-hour tests in the same session, you will be told on test day which test to take first.

21. Step Two: Select a Test Date and Test Center Select a Test Date: You will be given a list of available test dates. Only select one test date. Please note that not all tests are available for every test date. NOTE: Test dates for the following testing year are posted in late summer.

22. Step Two: Select a Test Date and Test Center Select a Test Center: There are two ways to find a test center: Nearest to Zip Code or By Location. The Zip Code option will provide a list of test centers within 150 miles from the zip code entered. The Location option will provide a list of test centers in the state indicated for the search. Choose the test center by clicking on Select next to the test center name.

23. Step Three: Indicate Attending Institution Tell Us Where You Received Your Relevant Training: You are to enter the code for the college or university where you took classes that most closely relate to the test(s) you are taking. ETS uses this data for analysis purposes only. Your individual score report will not be sent to your attending institution unless you also list them as a Designated Score Recipient.

24. Step Three: Indicate Attending Institution There are two ways to find your attending institution: by Name or Code and by Location. It is recommended to search by location. Some institutions have more than one code associated to the school for a particular program.

25. Step Four: Score Recipients Selecting Score Recipients: ETS allows up to two paper score recipients at no additional charge that will go to your state agency and a school or institution of your choice. Your score report will be available online only for 45 days from the posting date. You may also add additional institutions to receive a score report for an additional fee. NOTE: Southeast Missouri State University score recipient code is 6655.

26. Step Four: Score Recipients Passing Score Information: The score report will indicate the passing requirements of the test for the state or certifying agency. You may select a state or agency or skip this step. NOTE: Some states require a copy of your score report to complete the certification process.

27. Step Five: Background Questions There are 15 background questions ETS would like you to answer. These questions are optional, but you are strongly recommended to answer.

28. Step Six: Test Preparations ETS Offers test preparation materials for the particular subject test you are scheduled to take. There is additional cost for the preparation materials. Select the preparation materials you wish to purchase then continue. If you do not want to purchase preparation materials from ETS, simply continue without making a selection.

29. Step Seven: Review Your Order Before ETS will process your order, ETS provides a detail review of your order. From here, you may go back and edit any of the information selected. If all information is correct, Proceed to Checkout.

30. Step Eight: Payment To confirm your order with ETS, you must provide credit card information along with the correct billing address. ETS accepts American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa. NOTE: Before submitting your order, please be aware of the various fees associated to changes or cancellations of the test, changes to the test center, changes to the date, or changes to the score recipient.

31. Step Eight: Payment In order to submit the order, you must agree to the Policy Agreement concerning test administration, fee payment, and score reporting. Details on the Policy Agreement are available through the PRAXIS Series Information Bulletin.

32. Step Nine: Order Complete When you Submit Your Order do not hit the “back” button. This may duplicate your order. Wait until the confirmation page is available. Print out the confirmation page. This serves as your registration ticket for the exam. NOTE: If the page does not reset, close the internet page, and re-login into your PRAXIS account. If the order went through, it will show up in your account as purchased orders.

33. Registration by Mail Registration by mail is required for the following reasons: • Paying by Check or Money Order • Cannot test on Saturday due to: • Religious Beliefs • Duties as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces • Test Taker with Disabilities • Test Taker Whose Primary Language is not English • Southeast Missouri State University is not a test center for PLNE Additional paperwork is needed to accompany the registration form depending on the situation stated above. Review the ETS/PRAXIS website for the particular requirements for testing.

34. Registering for a Monday test date for Religious Reasons • Complete the printed registration form. In the section under Saturday test date, print “Monday” on the line provided for the test center name and below write the city and state of the test center. • Submit a letter of explanation on your cleric’s letterhead, signed by your cleric, with your registration form. • Include the name of the agency requiring you to take the test. NOTE: Registration form and letter need to be received no later than 6 weeks prior to test date.

35. Registering for a Monday test date due to Military Duties • Complete the printed registration form. In the section under Saturday test date, print “Monday” on the line provided for the test center name and below write the city and state of the test center. • Submit a photocopy of your orders with your registration form. • Include the name of the agency requiring you to take the test. NOTE: Registration form and letter need to be received no later than 6 weeks prior to test date.

36. Registering Under Test Accommodations ETS is committed to serving test takers with disabilities by providing services and reasonable accommodations that are appropriate given the purpose of the test. Nonstandard testing accommodations are available for test takers who meet ETS requirements. When applying for accommodations, ETS requires additional documentation to be supplied with the PRAXIS application. You are required to follow the procedures corresponding to the disability. • Documentation Options Include: • Learning Disabilities • Physical Disabilities • Psychiatric Disabilities • ADHD

37. Documentation Criteria Documentation on file for the applicant must: • clearly state the diagnosed disability or disabilities • describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability or disabilities • be current - i.e., completed within the last 5 years for LD, last 6 months for psychiatric disabilities, or last 3 years for ADHD and all other disabilitie (NOTE: this requirement does not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature) • include complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which testing accommodations are being required • include a list of all test instruments used in the evaluation report and relevant subtest scores used to document the stated disability (this requirement does not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature)

38. ETS Disability Services Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (New York) Phone: 1-866-387-8602 (toll free) from U.S. and Canada TTY: 1-609-771-7714 Fax: 1-609-771-7165 Email: stassd@ets.org Mail: ETS - Disability Services PO Box 6054 Princeton, NJ 08541-6054

39. Frequently Asked Questions Do I have to pre-register to take the PRAXIS Exam? Yes, Standby registration is not allowed. Where do I register for the PRAXIS Exam? PRAXIS Exams must be registered through ETS either online at www.ets.org/PRAXIS or by mail. Mail registration requires you to print out the registration form from the ETS/PRAXIS website. How much is it for the PRAXIS Exam? There is an annual registration fee of $50 and then a fee for the test. Exam fees vary according to test. There are also late fees if the registration is not received by the deadline dates. Where can I find study materials? There are numerous reference materials along with websites that offer PRAXIS study materials. It is recommended to use the information published by ETS. ETS offers a Test at a Glance view of the specific PRAXIS test. The College of Education has available some specialized study materials that can be obtained in Scully Room 212, as well as copies that maybe reserved in Kent Library. Which PRAXIS Exam I need to take for Missouri certification? PRAXIS Exams for Missouri certification are available through Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Website at http://dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/teached/praxis.htm

40. Study Material Reference Reference materials can be obtained through www.ETS.org/PRAXIS, public library, or any retail bookstore. ETS offers reference materials for each subject test. Free materials include Test at a Glance, Reducing Test Anxiety, and General Information and Study Tips. Available for purchase is the subject Study Guide. The College of Education Certification and Assessment office has some study materials available that can be checked-out. Please visit Scully room 212. Online resources should be carefully reviewed before considering to purchase. It is recommended to use study materials that are published by ETS. Some online resources include: http://www5.semo.edu/eese/Praxis/Praxis.htm http://www.testprepreview.com/ http://www.ets.org/praxis