Candidate knowledge and skills to meet Texas Educator Standards

Candidates will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions gained in the Library Science program. 

All candidates seeking school librarian certification must take the TExES (Texas Examination of Educator Standards) for school librarians. This exam directly corresponds to the state content competencies that are designed to measure the candidates' level of mastery as it relates to the field. Results of candidate scores on the TExES test for school librarians determine the pass rate for each testing period.

Candidates will pass the TExES Exam for School Librarian, and 80% of candidates will succeed upon their first effort. A scaled score of 240 is required for passing. The overall pass rate will exceed 90% of candidates.

Once the faculty studied the TExES results, the following weaknesses according to the Standards indicated by Domains emerged: Domain 1: Teaching, Learning, & the School Library Environment; and Domain 3: Librarianship, Information Science, & Technology.

The weaknesses that emerged are being addressed. The department purchased and instituted the representative sample from Educational Testing Services (ETS) and candidates are required to pass before taking the TExES Exam for School Librarians. Those who do not pass the representative sample receive assistance until they pass. We will particularly target the two domains that are weaker than others.

Library science candidates prepare a final assessment portfolio for the MLS to demonstrate mastery and competence standards adopted by the field.

Candidates will demonstrate mastery of their knowledge, skills, and dispositions gained in the Library Science program on the final assessment portfolio.

Every graduate program requires a final product for its course of study. Historically the Department of Library Science has utilized a written comprehensive exam, followed by an oral review, and most recently, an electronic portfolio. The faculty believes that the electronic portfolio is currently the best method of providing evidence that the candidate is prepared for the world of school librarianship. Four major areas are covered: Administration, Literature, Resources and Services, and Technology.

The student must meet acceptable or target evaluations of their final assessment portfolio, the culminating product submitted during semester prior to graduation. Portfolios are evaluated based upon presentation of artifacts and reflections related to four major areas: literature, technology, administration, and resources and services. The evaluation is based on NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) standards. Professors grade the portfolios using rubrics developed by faculty for this purpose.

All students will obtain an assessment of either acceptable or target as indicated by department rubrics on the final portfolio. The desired ratio is 75% Acceptable and 25% Target, which is the higher score.

Areas of weakness in the program emerged when studying the rubric scores. The major weakness found was that candidates' submissions demonstrate they have difficulty discussing and describing major concepts for each of the four sections: Resources/Services (LS 530, 532, 534); Administration (LS 537, 567); Literature (LS 560, 585); and Technology (LS 570, 591, 596).

The department has better informed candidates of the structure expected to meet the portfolio requirements. Each professor emphasized major concepts that were expected to appear in the portfolio. Also, candidates were supported by portfolio reviews in their final semester and personal advisement through their studies.