Exit Portfolio

 

The professional teaching portfolio is designed to demonstrate your competence as a special education teacher based on the California Special Education State Teaching Performance Expectations (or TPEs).  The portfolio is built throughout  your credential program and documents your knowledge and professional practice related to the TPEs. It’s important that you begin building your portfolio as soon as you begin your coursework, and continue to add to it throughout the program.

 

The portfolio is divided into seven sections.  The first section contains introductory information such as your resume, philosophy of education and professional disposition self-assessments.  The remaining six sessions correspond to the Special Education TPEs. [show portfolio template in Livetext]

 

Each of the six TPE Domain sections will include artifacts and reflections that demonstrate your competence in all of the TPEs.  Each section will include a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 artifacts and reflections that demonstrate your mastery of all TPEs within the domain.  Each artifact will have an accompanying short reflection that connects the artifact to a specific TPE, and discusses what was learned, and how the artifact demonstrates your competence of that TPE. Most of the artifacts for the portfolio should be from your special education courses, or assignments from other courses that address special education topics.  You may also include artifacts from your clinical practice or fieldwork such as lesson plans, IEPs, and assessment reports. Specific directions for completing these elements of your portfolio are detailed in the portfolio handbook.

 

After you’ve completed your clinical practice, and uploaded all artifacts and artifact reflections, you’ll write the final reflections for each of the 6 TPE domains.  The reflections must be 2-3 pages, double spaced and include an overview of each domain; how you have demonstrated competence in each domain throughout your program; key insights you gained about each domain; and strengths and areas for growth within each domain.

 

Your portfolio will be submitted electronically via Livetext, after you have completed all coursework and student teaching. It will be scored by two faculty assessors using the rubric contained in the portfolio handbook.

 

You should meet with your special education faculty mentor regarding your portfolio to discuss the portfolio process and requirements, and to ensure you’ve completed them correctly before submitting your portfolio.  Additionally, you may send a draft of one of your final domain reflections to your faculty mentor for review and feedback.

 

You can find more detailed directions on the portfolio in the Education Specialist Professional Teaching Portfolio Guidelines, found in My Brandman.