DEFINITION

A program portfolio is a systematic and purposeful collection of work that documents a  teacher candidate’s attainment of the Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice for beginning teaching. The program portfolio is used as an assessment tool within the teacher education program and may be developed later into an effective tool for communicating with prospective employers. It demonstrates teacher candidates’ process of professional growth and development and their ability to reflect on instructional practice. It is one way for candidates to provide supporting evidence that they are qualified for beginning teaching as defined by departmental standards. Program portfolios belong to teacher candidates. Consequently, it is the candidate’s responsibility to prepare, secure and maintain the portfolio.