Glossary

Acronyms, terms and definitions of commonly used words used in area public instruction.

  • APC (Academic Policies Committee) – APC has responsibility for developing institutional policy and procedures in academic matters.
  • AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) – A college-preparatory program designed to aid economically disadvantaged, and academically average first-generation students of both elementary and high schools into college.
  • CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) – A council of educators created to ensure and raise the quality of preparation for their profession. Founded to accredit teacher certification programs at U.S. colleges and universities. (http://caepnet.org)
  • Candidate – Department of Education informally or formally enrolled student.
  • Cooperating Teacher – An in-service teacher hosting a Student Teacher.
  • DOE (Department of Education) – University of North Carolina Asheville department responsible for teacher education.
  • DPI (Department of Public Instruction) – Short for NCDPI.
  • edTPA – education Teacher Performance Assessment.
  • Education Acronyms (NCDPI) – http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acronyms.
  • Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) – Initial teaching certification program (formerly – the “Unit”).
  • ESL (English as Second Language) – Designation given to students for whom English is not the native language.
  • FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) – Total enrollment figure used to determine funding and positions.
  • IHE (Institutions of Higher Education) – Colleges and universities.
  • ILS (Integrative Liberal Studies) – UNC Asheville’s general studies curriculum.
  • ILT (Initially Licensed Teacher) – Any teacher with less than three years of experience.
  • LEA – Local Education Agency.
  • Moodle – “Moodle is a course management system (CMS) – a free, Open Source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities. You can download and use it on any computer you have handy (including webhosts), yet it can scale from a single-teacher site to a University with 200,000 students. […]” To access Moodle at UNC Asheville go to http://learnonline.unca.edu.
  • NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) – A council of educators created to ensure and raise the quality of preparation for their profession. Founded to accredit teacher certification programs at U.S. colleges and universities. NCATE has been replaced by CAEP (see above).
  • NCDPI (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction) – State agency charged with implementing the State’s public school laws and the State Board of Education’s policies and procedures governing Pre-K – 12 education
  • NCUR (National Council for Undergraduate Research)
  • NCSCOS (North Carolina Standard Course of Study) – The state’s former curricular requirements for each grade level and subject area.
  • NETS*A (National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators)
  • NETS*S (National Educational Technology Standards for Students)
  • NETS*T (National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers)
  • PPST (PRAXIS I Pre-Professional Skills Test) – Test of basic reading, writing, and math used as a formal admission criterion
  • SBE (State Board of Education) – Administers the state educational system.
  • Student Teacher – A candidate that is student teaching in the field.
  • TPAI (Teacher Performance Assessment Instrument) – The TPAI is a “high inference assessment system” developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
  • UNCA (University of North Carolina Asheville)
  • University Supervisor – Each Student Teacher will be assigned a University Supervisor from the Department of Education. For the University Supervisor’s role refer to the current Student Teaching Handbook.

USTEC (University School Teacher Education Committee) –

  • University Standing Committee comprised of DOE faculty, A & S Faculty, Public School Personnel, students, and alumni.
  • Advisory to DOE Chairperson
  • Oversees USTEP activity

USTEP (University School Teacher Education Partnership) –

  • Collaborative group involving DOE and A&S faculty, Public School Personnel, students, and alumni
  • Undertake projects to improve teacher education and serve LEAs
  • Divided into three subcommittees: Initial Preparation, Induction, Professional Development