You're inspired to benefit society and positively impact the future of humanity. You strive to make a difference in the lives of children for years to come. By becoming a teacher, you will accomplish these things, while contributing to one of the world's oldest – and most important – professions.
The education program at Lakeland is committed to providing aspiring teachers with the skills and practical experiences they need to thrive in the classroom. Beyond skills and knowledge, though, the program helps Lakeland students to develop into teachers who are caring and reflective, teachers who address the needs of all children.
Lakeland’s education program strives to meet the professional, practical, and personal needs of future teachers. First, our students receive all the coursework, knowledge, and assistance they will need to exceed Wisconsin’s requirements for teaching certification. Second, they receive the pedagogical tools and practical experiences that starting teachers need in order to succeed in their own classrooms. Finally and most importantly, our education majors are encouraged to develop their own voice and teaching style through continual hands-on engagement with the teaching process.
Upon completion of an undergraduate Education program, it will lead to an endorsement for a teaching license from the state of Wisconsin. For more information about each program, please click the link(s) below.
“What makes us special is the personal attention we pay to our students,” says Lakeland's professor of education. “I think we are one of the best, and we can compete against anybody. One criterion I always use to find out how we can make that claim is the number of schools that hire our graduates. We have a very high employment rate. Students who graduate from Lakeland University are hired by many schools in the state and other states."
Per Act 166, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is required to produce an annual report of the State’s educator preparation programs (EPP). The report includes information on program completers, their first-time pass rates on the required performance assessments, and employment data. The following link provides a copy of the annual report.
In order to receive an educator license in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requires applicants to demonstrate competency in the basic skills of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, as well as in the content knowledge of their specific license area. Tests and passing scores are approved by the State Superintendent.
Basic Skills Tests
Wis. Admin. Code PI 34 requires that all students applying for admission to an educator preparation program in a Wisconsin college/university or alternative program must pass competency tests in communication skills prior to admission.
Praxis CORE Tests
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics are the state's approved basic skills tests. Qualifying scores are:
| Test | Passing Score |
|---|---|
| Reading (5712) | 156 |
| Writing (5722) | 162 |
| Mathematics (5732) | 150 |
Subject Area Tests
All candidates who complete their educator preparation programs in a Wisconsin college/university or alternative program after August 31, 2004, are required to complete and pass subject area tests for their licensure area to qualify for a Wisconsin educator license. There is no waiver for the subject area test requirement for each candidate’s licensure area. The subject area test requirements also apply to educators returning to complete a new licensure area (e.g., subject) after August 31, 2004.
Praxis II
Praxis II content knowledge tests are required for all teaching and pupil services candidates (except School Social Worker) enrolled in Wisconsin educator preparation programs in any subject other than world languages.
Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test
Effective January 31, 2014, applicants for initial licensure as an elementary teacher (grades K-5, EC, EC-MC, MC-EA), a special education teacher, a reading teacher, or reading specialist must receive a passing score of 240 or higher on the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test. Any licensed teacher wanting to add one or more of these areas to their license must also pass the test.
ACTFL World Language Tests
ACTFL World Language Tests are required for all world language teacher candidates. Wisconsin requires both the Oral Proficiency interview (OPI-OPIc) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT). The qualifying score for licensure in Wisconsin on both tests is "Intermediate High."
edTPA
Beginning in Fall 2015, all student teacher candidates must complete the edTPA to be endorsed for licensure. The edTPA is a multiple measure assessment system aligned to state and national standards, including the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
Beginning in Fall 2016, ALL student teacher candidates will complete the edTPA during student teaching and must post a passing score on the edTPA to complete a program and be endorsed for Wisconsin licensure.
For more information regarding these testing requirements, please contact a member of the Education Division.
Lakeland's DPI approved education program will usher you into the classroom, fully prepared for a rewarding career. According to a recent Georgetown University report, the retirement rate for teachers over the next decade will be high, as will the hiring rate for new education graduates.
Education students enrolled in Lakeland's traditional program on the main campus have the ability to gain 12-18 months of full-time work experience and academic credit for their work through our Cooperative Education program. A combination of scholarships and wages will help significantly reduce or eliminate post-graduation debt.
