Education skill test 3 ppt

California Education Code Section 44252 requires that teachers, administrators, and other schoolpractitioners demonstrate adequate proficiency, in English, of three basic skills: reading

Educational

Skills Test

California Education Code (Section 44252) requires that teachers, administrators, and other school

practitioners demonstrate adequate proficiency, in English, of three basic skills: reading, math-ematics, and writing Administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc (NES®), the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST®) was created to assess and verify these skills The CBEST is not a meas-urement of teaching abilities or skills, but is rather a tool for measuring proficiency in the more basic, necessary skills as indicated above—skills employed by all school practitioners at the elementary, secondary, and adult edu-cation levels

By law, the CBEST provides separate scores in each of these three areas, and acceptable scores must be achieved in each area to meet the requirements of this code relative to credentialing and employment in Cali-fornia—and Oregon

In July 1984, the CBEST guideline was adopted by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commis-sion (TSPC) Within six months, satisfactory CBEST scores were made mandatory for initial licensure in Ore-gon as a teacher, personnel specialist, or administrator The CBEST test requirement is additional to other licensing requirements as set forth in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS, Chapter 342), and the Oregon Rules for

C H A P T E R

What is the CBEST?

C H A P T E R S U M M A R Y

This chapter provides the Who, What, When, Where, and How of the

CBEST—those all-important details such as: who has to take it, what it’s used for and what it’s like, when and where it’s given, how it’s scored, and how to register

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Licensure of Teachers, Personnel Specialists, and

Administrators (OAR, Chapter 584)

 W h o M u s t Ta k e t h e C B E S T ?

California

In California, you are required to take the CBEST if

any one of the following provisions applies to you:

■ You are applying for a teaching or service

creden-tial for the first time

■ You are applying for issuance or renewal of an

Emergency Permit unless you already hold a valid

California teaching credential for which a

bache-lor’s degree is required

■ If you have not taught during the 39 months

prior to new employment, the CBEST may also

be a condition of employment under CEC

Sec-tion 44830 If you are uncertain whether the

CBEST is required in the school district where

you are considering employment, contact them

for the necessary information

■ You are applying for admission to either a

teacher-preparation or service-credential

pro-gram approved by the California Commission on

Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), unless you

already hold a valid California teaching credential

for which a bachelor’s degree is required

Oregon

Oregon requires passing CBEST scores prior to initial

credentialing as a teacher, personnel specialist, or

administrator, unless one of the following provisions

is met:

■ You can document five years of full-time, licensed

employment in public schools in another state

■ You already hold one type of Oregon license and

are a first-time applicant for a license of a

differ-ent type For example, an Oregon-licensed

teacher who applies for an initial personnel spe-cialist license does not need CBEST scores

■ You give evidence of passing scores on Praxis I, or the NTE Core Battery Test of Communication Skills and General Knowledge

 W h o i s E xe m p t f r o m t h e

C B E S T ?

California

In California, you are exempt from taking the CBEST for the following kinds of employment:

■ Instructor of adults in an apprenticeship program

■ Teacher in a children’s center or a development center

■ Teacher in any subject for which a bachelor’s degree is not required

■ Provider of health services, unless you are also required to teach

■ Student Teacher status, which requires a Certifi-cate of Clearance

■ Educational Specialist in Deaf and Hearing Impaired, or School Counseling Services, where the individual seeking employment is prelingually deaf Service under this option is limited to state special schools or to classes for students who are deaf or hearing impaired However, those who choose this option are required to complete a job-related assessment in lieu of the CBEST

■ Any position where a valid, non-emergency Cali-fornia teaching credential is held which requires a bachelor’s degree, and for which CBEST is not required for renewal

■ Any position that requires the renewal or reis-suance of a clear, or professional clear, credential

NOTE: CBEST states that candidates wishing to obtain an Exchange Credential, a Sojourn Credential,

– W H AT I S T H E C B E S T ? –

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or a credential based upon the completion of a

teacher-preparation program outside of California

may obtain an initial teaching credential without

meeting the CBEST requirement All such candidates

must pass the CBEST, however, during the first year of

validity of the initial credential

Oregon

In Oregon, you may be granted a two-year (24-month)

exemption from the CBEST requirement if you have

not yet passed the CBEST, but are otherwise qualified

for licensure

The CBEST waiver is only granted upon request

of the employing school superintendent or school

board in the event that (1) attempts were made to hire

a properly licensed educator, but were unsuccessful,

and that (2) the position is necessary for the school to

operate normally However, exemption can be granted

without district request to candidates from states with

reciprocral agreements in Oregon—such an

exemp-tion is nonrenewable For further licensure, passing

scores on the CBEST must be presented by the

candi-date

 W h a t i s t h e C B E S T L i k e ?

What Sorts of Questions Does

the CBEST Ask?

The CBEST exam is comprised of three separate

sec-tions: (1) Reading, which consists of 50

multiple-choice questions; (2) Mathematics, consisting of 50

multiple-choice questions; and (3) Writing, which

consists of two essay subjects

Questions in the Reading section are derived

from two important skill areas: critical

thinking/argu-ment analysis, and research/comprehension Drawn

from a variety of fields, such as humanities, the social

sciences, consumer affairs, or health, CBEST questions

are based on passages that vary in degree of difficulty

and complexity, and are designed to assess the test-taker’s ability to evaluate and comprehend the infor-mation presented Some passages are longer (200 words or more); some are shorter (about 100 words) Some may be statements of one or two sentences, while others may even be tables or graphs Every ques-tion is based on a particular passage, table, or graph None require outside knowledge, and all of the ques-tions can be answered on the basis of the analysis and comprehension of the information provided

The Mathematics section is mostly comprised of questions—presented as word problems—that evalu-ate the test-taker’s ability to solve mathematical prob-lems The questions asked are designed to assess three major skill areas: estimation, measurement, and sta-tistical principles; computation and problem solving; and numerical and graphic relationships

The Writing section is comprised of two essay subjects—both of which the test-taker must respond to—and are designed to assess your ability to write coherently, authoritatively, and persuasively In one of the essays, you will be asked to analyze a situation or statement, while the other requires a written response relating to a personal experience Your essays must be written in your own words, and you must write only

on the topics presented All points in both essays must address the assigned topic, and should be aimed at a specific audience Essay responses must support any assertions with specific, relevant details and examples The key to success here is to stay specific—do not digress! For more detailed information on what it takes

to write a fantastic essay, see the section on Writing in the CBEST Mini-Course (Chapter 4) The criteria for scoring the CBEST essays is found at the end of Chap-ter 5; many tips for successfully writing a “4” (Pass) essay are also found there

How Long Does the CBEST Take?

When you take the CBEST, you have a total of four hours in which to complete the three separate sections

– W H AT I S T H E C B E S T ? –

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