Section 92-20-002 - Definition of TermsAs used in this Chapter:
002.01Academic year means a school year which consists of two (2) regular consecutive semesters that occur from fall through spring.002.02Accreditation means the status of public recognition that an accrediting agency grants to an educational institution and is recognized by the United States Department of Education.002.03Advanced program means a program at the postbaccalaureate level for (a) educators who have previously completed initial preparation or (b) the preparation of other school professionals.002.04Board means the State Board of Education.002.05Candidate means an individual admitted to, or enrolled in, a program for the initial or advanced preparation or the continuing professional development of educators.002.06Certificate means a teaching, administrative, or special services certificate issued by the Department pursuant to 92 NAC 21.002.07Clinical practice means a culminating, supervised experience that provides a candidate with opportunities to demonstrate competence in the professional role for which the candidate is preparing and that includes student teaching or an internship.002.08Commissioner means the State Commissioner of Education.002.09Cooperating educator means an educator employed in a setting utilized for a clinical practice who has the appropriate certification and experience to perform observation, coaching, mentoring, and/or evaluation of a candidate.002.10Coursework means the experiences required to complete the preparation program and may include class instruction, field experiences, or other required activities.002.11Credit hour means the equivalent of fifteen (15) instructional class periods of fifty (50) minutes or more.002.12Department means mean the State Department of Education, which is comprised of the Board and the Commissioner.002.13Diversity means differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, sexual orientation, and/or geographical areas.002.14Educator means a holder of a teaching, administrative or special services certificate.002.15Educator certificate means a certificate issued pursuant to standards comparable and equivalent to those in 92 NAC 21.002.16Educator preparation program means the system of procedures, coursework. and activities in a college, school, or department of an approved standard institution of higher education that result in the initial or advanced preparation of teachers, administrators, and other school professionals.002.17Endorsement means an area of specialization indicated on a certificate issued pursuant to 92 NAC 21 signifying that the individual has met specific content preparation requirements contained in 92 NAC 24.002.18Exceptional expertise requirement means documented scholarship, skill, or experience in the priorities set by the educator preparation program, such as content specialization, diversity, assessment, or technology.002.19Faculty means all professional education faculty, including adjunct faculty and graduate students, employed by a standard institution of higher education who teach one or more courses in professional education and/or supervise field experiences.002.20Field experience means an opportunity for candidates to observe, assist, tutor, instruct, and/or conduct research to develop professional education knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Field experiences include practicum and clinical practice requirements. Field experiences are designed and implemented through collaboration with school partners and faculty and occur in school systems or other settings serving students.002.21Human relations requirement has the same meaning as human relations training in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-807 and as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-808.002.22Initial program means a program at the baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate level that prepares candidates for their first certificate. They include five-year programs, master's programs, and other postbaccalaureate and alternate route programs that prepare individuals for their first certificate.002.23Internship means a clinical practice in which candidates practice and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions required for advanced programs.002.24Practicum means a field experience completed prior to a candidate's clinical practice.002.25Professional dispositions means candidate attitudes, values, and beliefs demonstrated in interactions with students, families, educators, and communities consistent with ethical performance criteria contained in 92 NAC 27.002.26Professional education coursework means coursework, including field experience, designed to develop educator competencies, including, but not limited to, student development, learning differences, learning environments, content knowledge and its application, assessment, planning for instruction, instructional strategies, collaboration, and ethical practice.002.27School partner means school systems and other education programs that collaborate with the educator preparation program in designing, developing, and implementing field experiences, delivery of instruction, and research.002.28School system means an institution that is accredited or approved by the Department to provide instruction at any level PK-Grade 12, including an educational service unit accredited by the Department.002.29Special authorization means a process by which the Department may grant approval for a standard institution of higher education to offer a pilot endorsement program.002.30Special education requirement has the same meaning as special education training in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-807 and as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-809.002.31Standard institution of higher education, or institution, has the same meaning as in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-807.002.32Student teaching means a clinical practice in a school system which provides an initial preparation candidate with an experience to demonstrate competence in the professional role for which the candidate is preparing.002.33Terminal degree means the highest degree available in a specific field of preparation or recognized by the profession.92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 20, § 002
Amended effective 7/16/2019Amended effective 6/2/2024