STEP / SPEE Constitution


June, 2005
Constitution of Self-study of teacher education practices (STEP)
/ La soi-étude de pratiques d'éducation d'enseignant (SPEE):
A Special Interest Group (SIG) within
the Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE)
/ Association canadienne pour la formation des enseignants (ACFE)

  1. Name

    1. The name of the Special Interest Group shall be:

      2. Self-study of teacher education practices (STEP)
      / La soi-étude de pratiques d'éducation d'enseignant (SPEE).

  2. Purpose

    1. To provide a research and discussion forum for all of the members of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) / Société canadienne pour l'étude de l'éducation (SCÉÉ) who are interested in examining and promoting issues related to the study of teaching others how to teach whilst examining ones own practice of teaching.

    2. To encourage the development of collaborative research programmes that include different educational contexts and different institutions .

  3. Organization

    1. The STEP / SPEE SIG shall hold an annual business meeting as part of the Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE) / Association canadienne pour la formation des enseignants (ACFE) component of the annual conference of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) / Société canadienne pour l'étude de l'éducation (SCÉÉ).

    2. The SIG shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the SIG shall be used in promoting its objectives.

    3. In the event of the dissolution of the SIG, all its remaining assets after payment of liabilities shall be distributed to a charitable organization recognized by the Department of National Revenue.

  4. Membership

    1. Members of the SIG must also be full members of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) / Société canadienne pour l'étude de l'éducation (SCÉÉ) and its constituent association, the Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE) / Association canadienne pour la formation des enseignants (ACFE).

    2. The amount of the annual dues shall be determined by the membership at the annual business meeting and in accordance with the policies of CATE.

    3. All members of the SIG in good standing shall have the privilege of:

      • Voting at the annual business meeting

      • Nominating members for office in the SIG

      • Standing for office in the SIG

      • Benefiting from the services of the SIG

    4. Membership in the SIG shall be in accordance with CSSE regulations.

  5. Officers of the STEP / SPEE SIG

    1. The term of officers of the SIG shall be for one year renewable.

    2. In the event of an officer of the SIG resigning his/her position, the President is empowered to appoint a substitute until the next general meeting. At that time, a candidate for the unexpired term of office will be elected by the membership in accordance with normal procedures.

    3. The duties of the President are to foster STEP/SPEE's purpose within CATE and with potential partners. The President is to maintain the records of the SIG, organize the annual business meeting, communicate directly with the membership concerning SIG business, prepare for upcoming elections when required, liaise with the President of CATE, and attend Executive meetings of CATE.

    4. The duties of the Program Chair are to assist the President in the operations of the SIG, collect abstracts for the annual conference, organize a blind review of these abstracts, inform researchers of the outcome, and recommend a schedule of accepted presentations to CSSE.

  6. Languages

    1. The official languages of the SIG are French and English.

  7. Regulations

    1. The SIG shall be subject to the By-laws and Regulations established by the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) / Société canadienne pour l'étude de l'éducation (SCÉÉ).

  8. Amendments

    1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be made by a 60% vote of all members in good standing and in attendance at the annual general meeting of the SIG, or responding to an electronic or mailed ballot.

    2. Notice of motion for an amendment to this constitution shall be distributed to all members of the SIG in good standing sixty (60) days before the annual general meeting or, in the case of an electronic or mailed vote, sixty (60) days prior to the last date on which ballots will be accepted.