Performance-Based Standards for Initial Level Special Educators

As indicated, the graduate teacher preparation program in special education at Towson

University is an initial certification course of study. As such, it is guided by a set of core
principles and performance based standards by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and
the Interstate Teacher and Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC). Performance based
standards outline the knowledge, skills, and competencies a beginning teacher should know and
be able to demonstrate. The standards for teacher performance identified by the Interstate
Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC), and the Council for Exceptional
Children (CEC) are aligned as follows:
CEC Preparation Standards
A. Learners and Learning
1. Learner Development and Individual
Learning Differences
2. Learning Environments
B. Content
3. Curricular Content Knowledge
C. Instructional Pedagogy
4. Assessment
5. Instructional Planning and Strategies
D. Professionalism and Collaboration
6. Professional Learning and Ethical
Practice
7. Collaboration

InTASC Teacher Standards

A. Learner and Learning
1. Learner Development
2. Learning Differences
3. Learning Environments
B. Content
4. Content Knowledge
5. Applications of Content
C. Instructional Pedagogy
6. Assessment
7. Planning for Instruction
8. Instructional Strategies
D. Professionalism and Collaboration
9. Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
10. Leadership and Collaboration