Mission & Outcomes

Mission Statement

We, the faculty in the Department of Early and Middle Grades Education, support the preparation and professional development of pre– and in–service teachers.

We are dedicated to improving educational practice, advancing educational knowledge, and supporting the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that characterize educators who are passionate in their commitment to improving the life chances of children, adolescents, and their families.

We believe that quality learning experiences are active, collaborative, constructive, and continuous processes that are responsive to context, accessible and valuable to all learners, and contribute to the development of informed citizens.

Program Outcomes

The Department of Early and Middle Grades Education offers undergraduate, post baccalaureate, and master's degree programs that are designed to meet the:

• Unit Outcomes and Knowledge Base of the West Chester University's Conceptual Framework,
• Program-specific competencies required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE),
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP),
• Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Principles, and
• Relevant Specialty Program Association (SPA) Standards-including National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE).

Program Outcomes Overview

• Early Grades Preparation, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 4 (EGP)
• Middle Grades Preparation, Grades 4 through 8 (MGP)
• M. Ed. in Early Childhood Education
• M. Ed. in Applied Studies in Teaching and Learning