TAP Pathway: High School Graduates

About the Program

The online Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education/Elementary Education program creates a pathway for high school graduates to work as an apprentice in an elementary classroom, gaining valuable, hands-on experience – all while earning a college degree.

Here's how it works

Choose from two pathways.

State program pathway

After graduation, you'll apply to be an apprentice in your home school district for the following school year.
Once school starts, you'll begin work as a paid apprentice. We'll assign you a mentor teacher who will guide you in your practice.
In August, you'll begin taking courses at Wichita State while working as an apprentice.

Individual pathway

Apply for an apprenticeship in the district of your choice.
Once you're hired, apply to the Teacher Apprentice Program™ at Wichita State.
Once school starts, we'll assign you a mentor teacher who will guide you in your practice.
In August, you'll begin taking courses at Wichita State while working as an apprentice.

Cost

In the Teacher Apprentice Program™, you will have a low flat tuition rate per credit hour. You will also not have to pay an online or student activity fees for our courses, saving you money throughout the program. You can see a breakdown of the tuition and program fees to expect below per credit hour.

Tuition and Fees $249.63
TAP Course Fees $5.50 per credit hour
TAP Field Experience / Internship Course Fee $30.00
Teacher Licensure Capstone Course Fee, per course $100.00

Program Qualifications

In order to start the TAP Online Program, you must meet the qualifications listed below.

Employment as a Para Educator or Long Term Substitute

Must serve as a paraeducator for at least 8 hours per week or long-term sub with instructional responsibilities at the Early Childhood level (birth-3rd grade including SPED); or Elementary Education level (Kindergarten-6th grade general education) in the initial semesters of the program and full time para educator or Teacher of Record (on LTAP license) the final semester.
The paraeducator position can be in an interrelated (special education) or general education classroom.
The paraeducator position must be held in a building that is accredited by KSDE (Kansas State Department of Education) or licensed by KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) or a similar setting.

GPA Requirement

You must have a 2.0 Institutional and overall GPA.

If you do not meet this requirement, your academic advisor can assist you. Contact parapath@wichita.edu for more information.

Success Coach / Mentor

All students in the TAP program are provided with a success coach once they are eligible to begin the Internship courses. Success coaches are master teacher educators from across the state who are trained mentors, and work with the students in order to assist in their professional growth in designing and delivering instruction in the classroom. They are considered university supervisors for the students as they progress through the program.

Success Coaches

Will be assigned to TAP students in TAP 605 (after Labor Day in fall, after Feb 1 in spring)
Collaborate with TAP students and host 3-4 monthly zoom meetings per semester with their mentee groups. Students are required to attend the monthly meetings – as part of Internship grade.
Provide mentoring & support in your lesson planning, delivery of instruction, professional dispositions and assist in your growth as a professional.
Continue as your mentor and coach during your progress through the 4 internship courses in the TAP program.
Review your lesson plans and provide feedback for revision and reflection before teaching.
Review your teaching video on PASS and provide feedback for reflection and professional growth.
Assess your professional growth using the four KEEP constructs and submit KEEP summative assessment scores at the end of the semester.
Assess your professional dispositions and submit disposition assessment scores at the end of the semester.

TAP Students

Communicate with success coaches and attend monthly success coach meetings.
Submit lesson plans (as assigned in Internship Courses) to Success Coach for feedback 1-2 weeks in advance before teaching.
Work with success coaches in order to grow in their professionalism and meet the professional disposition expectations of the program. Demonstrated in their work with peers, instructors, coaches, and the education community.
Communicate with success coaches for support and assistance, as needed.

Degree Plans

Please know that these are sample degree plans. If you would like an academic advisor to create a degree plan for you, please send your unofficial transcripts for all previous institutions to parapath@wichita.edu.

If your general education courses are completed:

TAP Degree Plan #1

If your general education courses are not completed:

TAP Degree Plan #2

*If you hold an Associate of Arts or Science degree from a Kansas community college or technical school your degree plan may look different. Please contact a TAP advisor at parapath@wichita.edu.

Licensure Options

The degree includes several licensure options.

Licensure available to you after you've completed your degree:

Early Childhood Unified: Birth - 3rd Grade (including SPED)
Elementary Education: K - 6th Grade (general education only)
Early Childhood Unified AND Elementary Education: Birth - 3rd Grade (SPED) and Birth - 6th Grade (general education)

Licensure available to you while you're in the program:

Limited License

After you meet the qualifications for the Limited TAP License, you'll have the option to be hired as a teacher of record under the Limited TAP License while completing the Teacher Apprentice Program™ (TAP Program).

Accreditation and Licensure Notice - 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v)

34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v). Wichita State University's teacher education programs are accredited at the national, regional, and state level. Upon completion of all courses and program assessments, graduates of these programs will be eligible to apply for the Kansas initial teaching license for their program of study after they successfully complete the Kansas teacher licensure exams required by the State of Kansas for application for a teacher license or endorsement. Wichita State has made no determination if this program will lead to licensure in any state other than Kansas in which a graduate may seek licensure. Because every state has different requirements that may change frequently, we recommend checking with the state education department for the state in question to determine current requirements. The nonprofit organization Education Commission of the States has compiled Teacher License Reciprocity State Profiles that provide additional information about the teacher license reciprocity agreements for each state in a searchable format. Kansas Teacher Reciprocity Agreements provides a list of member states of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement who have signed reciprocity agreements with Kansas.

View TAP Licensure Information

TAP Admission Requirements

All items must be completed prior to starting the TAP Online Program.

Step 1: TAP Application

Step 1: Complete the WSU TAP Application Form online.

Step 2: WSU Admissions

Step 2: Apply for admission to Wichita State University

New Student Application: Apply Now
Previous WSU Student: Reactivate your file Now
Please notify your TAP Advisor that you are reactivating your account and which semester or 8 week period you plan to enter the program.

Please note this step will require you to submit your official transcripts to WSU. You will need to have an overall 2.0 GPA in order to be eligible for the TAP program.

Step 3: References

STEP 3: Complete the Reference Request Form with names and contact information for three references who are qualified to address your professional skills, communication skills (oral and written), and your potential for success as a classroom teacher and as a student in this program.

Step 4: Verification Form

STEP 4: Please use the Verification Form to verify your employment and that you have a Certificate of Health and/or Criminal Background Check on file with your district/interlocal where you serve as a para educator.

If you are unable to verify the Certificate of Health and/or Criminal Background Check through the verification form, please follow these steps:

Certificate of Health: Provide proof of a completed Certification of Health for School Personnel or TB test, K.S.A. 72--6266 (prior law 72-5213)) or verification that this has been completed per your employer**.

Criminal Background Check: Provide verification of a completed Criminal Background Check.

Option #1: Provide a copy of current Substitute License.
Option #2: Provide a copy of recent background clearance with Validity, NATSB, or district requirement.
Option #3: Validity Screening Solutions - Submit the Validity Online Background Request Form with payment within 10 business days from the date of the Teacher Ed. Application.

**Requirements per district may vary. Please contact Wichita State University College of Applied Studies for approval of acceptable alternative forms.

Step 5: Student Authorization Form

STEP 5: Complete Student Authorization Form

Step 6: Out of State Acknowledgement Form

STEP 6: Complete Out of State Licensure Requirements

Submission

Required application materials such as Verification Form, Certificate of Health, and Criminal Background Check can be submitted to the following options:

Email: parapath@wichita.edu

Mail: Teacher Apprentice Program™

College of Applied Studies

1845 Fairmount St.

Wichita, KS 67260

Hubbard Hall Room 104

Campus Mailbox: 142