Exploring the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP)
The Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) stands as a highly regarded institution for aspiring educators, consistently earning recognition among the top teacher education programs in the United States. STEP distinguishes itself by preparing educational leaders who demonstrate an understanding of the strengths and needs of a diverse student population and who are dedicated to equity and excellence for all students. STEP teacher candidates are supported to meet both the practical and intellectual challenges of the teaching profession and to revitalize the profession as well as the field.
A Deep Dive into STEP: The iSTEP Institute
Recognizing that a mere description cannot fully convey the STEP experience, the Inquiry into the Stanford Teacher Education Program (iSTEP Institute) was formalized in 2010. This initiative addresses the numerous requests for information from educators eager to learn more about the program's organization. iSTEP offers participants the opportunity to explore how the underlying principles of STEP might get operationalized in their particular contexts.
Curriculum Structure and Philosophy
The STEP curriculum underscores the integration of many areas of knowledge as a path to effective teaching. The secondary teacher candidates are enrolled in a core Secondary Teaching Seminar across all four quarters. The STEP secondary program offers highly-focused instruction interwoven with hands-on teaching experience, sustained mentoring, and personalized advising.
Coursework and Unit Requirements
Secondary teacher candidates take a minimum of 45 units distributed over four quarters, leading to a master’s in education and a preliminary California single subject teaching credential. Distribution of units is determined by course schedule, accreditation requirements, and a specially designed tuition plan. In addition to the core Secondary Teaching Seminar, teacher candidates take coursework in core curriculum and instructions content areas (e.g., English, Mathematics, Science, History, World Languages, etc.), as well as elective topics (e.g., Adolescent Development and Learning, Equity and Schooling, Literacy in Teaching, Supporting Students with Special Needs, etc.). These courses provide a comprehensive foundation for effective teaching.
Integrating Theory and Practice
The purpose of student teaching concurrent with coursework is to allow teacher candidates to construct bridges between theory and practice. STEP is a full-time, 12-month program that combines theory and practice throughout. Teacher candidates gain classroom experience during the day. Cooperating teachers and placement school sites are chosen based on guiding principles of equitable practices and high quality teaching and mentorship. This hands-on experience is a cornerstone of the STEP approach.
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Application Process for STEP
The Stanford Teacher Education (STEP) application process gives you the opportunity to display your full range of experience, education, and enthusiasm for teaching. We carefully review and consider every application. The application submission is conducted entirely online through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please complete and submit the online application. Applicants apply either to Elementary STEP or to Secondary STEP in one of the five subject areas for secondary certification: English, history/social science, math, science, or world languages. STEP integrates a world-class academic program with a well-supported, yearlong classroom placement. Applicants to STEP Secondary should demonstrate a strong knowledge of and commitment to the subject matter of their teaching specialization (i. e. , Math, Science, English, History/Social Science, or World Languages).
Key Application Components
Applicants must complete the online application form and pay a non-refundable application fee of $125. The essay should cover each of the points below in about 750-1,250 words, single spaced, with a maximum of three pages in length. Submit your essay electronically with the online application by uploading it in the personal statement section. Describe your educational background, your experience working with youth, and what draws you to becoming a teacher. Describe how your strengths, skills, interests, and experiences will contribute to the STEP community. For STEP Secondary (single-subject program), specify your interest in teaching a particular subject matter area. For STEP Elementary (multiple-subject program), specify your interest in teaching at the elementary level. As a program, we are committed to teaching for equity and justice. Explain what teaching for equity means to you and why you are drawn to joining a community of educators who share that commitment. There is an option in the application to write an Enriching the Learning Community statement.
Transcripts
Submit a transcript for every institution you have attended for at least one year. Upload each official or unofficial transcript as a PDF document. If you studied abroad and your coursework and grades are reflected on the transcript from your home institution, you do not need to submit original transcripts from the study abroad institution. We require transcripts from every college and university you have attended for at least one academic year as a full-time student. Upload transcripts as scanned copies or PDFs (no larger than 10MB) when submitting the online application. Please refrain from uploading a secured PDF/transcript with a digital signature, as our system cannot upload these properly. If you earned a degree at the institution from which you are submitting a transcript, please ensure that the degree conferred and the degree conferral date are clearly visible on the document. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will not have earned the degree by the time you submit your application, submit your most recent in-progress transcript. If admitted, we will contact you with instructions for sending official transcripts. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. If your transcript does not include your degree conferred and your degree conferral date, please submit a scanned copy of your diploma, a conferral statement, or a conferral document in addition to your transcript.
Essential Requirements
Applicants must fulfill specific requirements to be considered for admission. These include demonstrating subject matter competence and meeting basic skills requirements.
Subject Matter Competence (SMC)
All applicants must demonstrate subject matter competence. This can be achieved through one of the following options:
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CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers): The CSET is the primary way to verify your subject knowledge. CSET exams are offered as a computer-based test, year-round, Monday through Saturday, in California and across the country. Admitted students must pass a minimum of two CSET subtests in their intended teaching subject to begin the program in June. STEP Secondary applicants should plan on taking at least two subsets of the CSET test no later than March 31st. Advanced registration is required. We strongly encourage applicants to take the CSET before applying to STEP. Applications will be reviewed if candidates have not taken the exams or have not received their results by the application deadline. Domains of the Subject Matter Requirements can be found here.
Degree Major: Possession of a degree major that matches the content area. Appropriate Degrees to Satisfy Subject Matter Competence can be found here.
Undergraduate Subject Matter Verification Program: Completion of an undergraduate subject matter verification program approved by CCTC. List available here.
Those taking the CSET are encouraged to take the exam no later than March 31st. Coursework evaluations are due April 15th after receiving an offer of admission to the program. A minimum of 50% of subject matter competence is due upon program start date (at least two subtests/domains). STEP strongly encourages candidates to complete SMC before the start of the program.
Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)
All applicants must demonstrate basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. New provisions in California state law allow for a candidate’s bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education to serve as demonstration of basic skills requirement (BSR) in reading, writing, and mathematics. This should apply to nearly all STEP applicants, and thus the CBEST or other pathways to demonstrate basic skills is no longer required. (See here for additional details.) A bachelor’s degree (or higher) earned outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to a degree earned at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States to meet licensure requirements and satisfy the BSR. Educators who earned their degrees from outside ofthe United States must obtain an evaluation of their transcripts through a Commission-approved Foreign Transcript Evaluating Agency. code is required)
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Additional Notes for International Applicants
If you earned your degree outside of the United States, your degree must be deemed equivalent to a degree earned at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States to meet licensure requirements and satisfy the BSR. Educators who earned their degrees from outside of the United States must obtain an evaluation of their transcripts through a Commission-approved Foreign Transcript Evaluating Agency.
Take TOEFL no earlier than 18 months prior to deadline and no later than the application deadline.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The design of the program makes for an academically rigorous year. A record of academic success gives applicants the opportunity to succeed at the Master's level. The desire to work compassionately and constructively with youth is essential for finding fulfillment and success as a teacher. We seek applicants with a range of meaningful prior experience with youth (e. g. Our Teacher Candidates share a set of core values, including a commitment to social justice, a recognition of the virtues and values of a diverse student population, and a dedication to equity and excellence for all students. At its best, teaching is a collaborative, professional endeavor. At STEP, we strive to cultivate teacher leaders within and beyond the classroom.
Examples of Secondary Placements
This map shows examples of schools that have served as placement school sites for STEP secondary teacher candidates.
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