BAS degrees are designed to build on Associate degrees that provide workplace skills. BAS degrees build on a practical career training degree and provide a path to the baccalaureate level without requiring the student to earn another two-year degree. LCC's program will prepare teacher candidates with content and subject knowledge required in PreK-8 classrooms, while integrating an in-depth residency experience. Completion of the program will result in the award of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education.

In Washington, educators must obtain a Washington certificate in order to serve in the public schools. The residency certificate enables the holder to teach in endorsed subject areas. Certificates are issued by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Washington issues the Residency Teacher Certificate to most first-time and out-of-state applicants for a regular teaching certificate.

An endorsement defines the content area on the Washington Teaching Certificate. In the LCC Teacher Education program, you may earn endorsements in Elementary Education (K-8) and Early Childhood Education (P-3).

The BAS-TE degree will prepare graduates to work across the spectrum of early childhood education from birth through eighth grade in a variety of early education and general education programs such as early intervention, Head Start, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), and primary schools. Classroom teachers with an elementary education endorsement may be assigned to teach any subject in grades K-8.

Although teachers who graduate from the Teacher Education program are authorized by the state to teach K-8, they must also meet the federal Highly Qualified Teacher requirements in order to teach grades 6-8. These requirements include taking the WEST-E subject area test for Middle School education. For more information, contact the BAS-TE manager.

Candidates enrolled in this program complete both their baccalaureate degree and requirements for residency certification in two years, including a mentored internship to be completed in the final year. This is a total of 6 academic quarters at full-time status (15 credits per quarter).

The first cohort (group of students going through the program together) will begin in fall quarter 2019. New cohorts following will begin each fall quarter thereafter.

An application has two parts: Students need to apply to Lower Columbia College through the Office of Admissions and after that, to the Teacher Education Program through the Bachelor of Applied Science – Teacher Education (BAS-TE). BAS-TE admissions are competitive: there is one application deadline each year.

Student applicants will be screened through a process with clearly-defined minimum qualifications and prerequisites. Students will be expected to have cumulative 2.7 GPA in all college level coursework.

Yes. Prospective teachers must pass the WEST-B (Washington Educator Skills Test–Basic) prior to full acceptance into BAS-TE. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) has established exemptions and alternatives to the WEST-B requirement. See the PESB website for details.

Washington has two testing requirements: basic skills (WEST-B and Approved Alternatives) and content knowledge area testing. For early Childhood and Elementary Education endorsements, the NES will be the content area test. The testing requirements must be successfully completed within one calendar year of issuance of the first residency teacher temporary permit for first-time candidates. For details see the OSPI website.

Up to 30 candidates will be admitted for the Fall 2019 cohort. LCC will admit students based on a prioritization system that takes into account degree type, relevant work experience, GPA, and a personal statement.

Priority consideration will be given to those students who submit a complete admission packet and have completed either the WEST-B test or its equivalent SAT or ACT exams.

In the event that there are more applicants who meet all of the qualifications than there are slots available and it is not feasible to admit additional students, a wait list will be formed for the remaining qualified applicants. If a current student decides to drop out of the program during the first quarter, a new student from the wait list will be contacted and given the opportunity to enter the program. The wait list will expire at the end of the first year and these students will have to apply for admission for the following year.

We will work with all students who are interested in the BAS-TE program. You may need to retake some courses to improve your GPA, obtain more volunteer hours, or complete prerequisite courses. We will meet with interested students individually to develop a plan.

The application deadline for the Fall 2019 Cohort is May 31, 2019.

Besides taking the WEST-B test (or equivalent), applicants will need:

• Associate degree or completion of 90 credits from a regionally accredited college
• Minimum cumulative (overall) college level GPA of 2.7
• Official college transcripts (excluding LCC)

No, previous and current LCC students do NOT need to submit official LCC transcripts.

No, high school transcripts are not required for the BAS-TE application.

The WEST-B test is the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic which covers reading writing and mathematics. An individual's performance on a WEST test is evaluated against an established standard. That standard, or the passing score for each test and subtest, was established by the PESB and was based on the professional judgments and recommendations of Washington educators.

To report test scores in a consistent way for all test fields and all test administrations, the scores for all tests and subtests are converted to a common scale.

See the PESB website for details.

Applicants who can provide documentation of one of the following are exempt from taking the WEST–B:

• A National Board Teaching Certificate
• Washington passing scores on all three tests (Reading, Mathematics, and Writing) of the Praxis I
• A passing score on the California Basic Educational Skills Test™ (CBEST®)
• A passing score on the NES Essential Academic Skills Test

Alternative tests are the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT).

 

You may include a copy of your scores with your BAS-TE application or have scores sent directly to LCC.

Your test scores are reported to you and to any institution that you indicated as a score recipient when you registered. Your scores are also reported directly to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Office of Certification, and are automatically added to your certification application file. Your score report is for your records only; do not submit it with your application for certification or with the LCC or BAS-TE applications.

It can take up to six weeks to receive scores for the writing portion of the WEST-B. We advise taking the WEST-B as soon as possible.

Currently there is no expiration of the validity period for WEST-B test results.

You should not delay your application if you are waiting for your WEST-B results. Please submit all required application forms and indicate “waiting for your results” on the application.

Yes, undergraduate students in the Teacher Education Program are assigned to academic advisors in the BAS-TE program.

LCC has partnerships with the following school districts: Castle Rock, Longview, Kalama, Kelso, Toutle Lake, Wahkiakum, and Woodland.

All Placements will be assigned through collaboration with school building principals, mentor teachers, and BAS-TE Faculty.