I
did not want to delay getting you this good news!!! The state regulation
regarding a waiver of the basic skills test for students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
was FINALLY officially approved, and a letter is being sent out to all AAT
students from the most recent academic year. Students who are already
finished with the coursework and meet the GPA requirement can apply NOW for
summer graduation. (Note that of course students with under a 3.0 will
still need to take the tests.)
See
attached letter AND the application for graduation which they should fill out
and submit to the Office of Admissions per the letter. The news has
already made it to social media (yay Sonia!) and students are rushing for more
information. I will be reviewing all the places we need to change the
information and getting those things tweaked. If you can think of someone
who should have this information now and I missed them, please forward!
Hurrah
for our students and for the State AAT Oversight Committee who worked with MHEC
to get this done!!
Deb
Poese
To: Montgomery College Associates of Arts in Teaching Students
From: Dr. Eric Benjamin, Dean of Education and Social Sciences
Subject: Notice of Change in Regulation Requirements for Earning the Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) in Maryland
Date: July 22, 2020
As of June 30, 2020, the Maryland Regulation which covers the awarding of an Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) Degree has been revised. The new regulation, COMAR Section 13b.02.03.24. Degree Programs, part D, states the following:
D. An institution may award an Associate of Art in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree that:
(1) Meets the lower-level degree academic content, outcomes, and requirements for teacher education, similar to the first 2 years of a bachelor’s program in teacher education;
(2) Requires either:
(a) A 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale; or
(b) A 2.75—2.99 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and qualifying scores on the basic skills assessment for teacher licensure as established by the State Superintendent of Schools and as approved by the State Board of Education; and
(3) If achieved, transfers up to 70 credit hours, satisfying all lower-division teacher education program outcomes without further review by in-State 4-year public and independent institutions.
What does this mean to AAT students at MC?
The regulation change means that once you complete the required coursework for your particular AAT, if you have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher at Montgomery College at the time you are ready to graduate, you NO LONGER need to submit a qualifying basic skills test (Praxis Core, ACT or SAT) in order to complete your degree. If your GPA is between 2.75 and 2.99, you WILL STILL need to submit the minimum basic skills exam scores to earn the degree, and if your GPA is lower than 2.75 you are not eligible for the AAT.
What do AAT students need to do if they should have graduated in spring or summer 2020?
If you are an AAT student, have completed all necessary coursework, and have a 3.0 grade point average or higher, complete the attached application for graduation and submit it via email to the Office of Admissions and Records on the campus from which you wish to graduate by August 21, 2020. (https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions-registration/contact.html)
Who should AAT students contact with questions?
If you have questions about this change, please contact the following Education Advisors:
Dr. Glenda Hernandez Tittle, Education Department Coordinator
Professor Sonia Pruneda-Hernandez, Collegewide Early Childhood Education Programs
Sincerely,
Eric M. Benjamin, Ph.D.
Dean of Education and Social Sciences
Montgomery College
