Multiple Student Teaching Placement Requests

Initial Student Teaching Placement

Upon receipt of a candidate’s initial, completed student teaching application form in the Office of Field Experiences, a student teaching placement will be pursued for the candidate in the semester indicated on the application and with the candidate’s identified student teaching placement preferences in mind.

Before Student Teaching Begins

Following the candidate’s interview with his/her prospective cooperating teacher, the candidate contacts the Director of Field Experiences. At this time, the student has the opportunity to state whether or not any serious conflicts of interest* associated with this placement were identified by the candidate and/or cooperating teacher during this interview. If a conflict of interest is identified, the candidate describes the conflict in writing and makes an appointment to meet with the Director of Field Experiences. At this meeting, the DFE will determine if there is legitimate reason for pursuing a different placement. These same procedures apply for any circumstance (personal, financial, etc.) identified by the candidate at any time following the placement interview and before student teaching begins, which has potential for disrupting or dissolving placement arrangements already in progress.

If the DFE finds it is in the best interests of the candidate, the cooperating teacher and/or the K-12 students to find a second placement for the candidate, efforts will be made to do so. However, a second placement will be subject to ease of cooperating teacher availability rather than the candidate’s preferences.

If the DFE does not find the pursuit of a second placement to be in the best interests of the candidate, the cooperating teacher and/or the K-12 students, the original placement will be confirmed upon approval of the hosting school corporation. If the hosting school corporation does not approve the placement, again the second placement will be subject to ease of cooperating teacher availability rather than the candidate’s preferences.

Whenever the initially established or confirmed placement is dissolved prior to the start of that semester’s capstone classes, there is no guarantee that re-placement will occur for the same semester.

Second placements prior to the beginning of the originally applied for student teaching semester may be pursued by the candidate one (1) time without full division approval. Second placement inquiries will not begin until after the candidate has submitted an updated student teaching application to the Office of Field Experiences.

A third placement pursuit prior to the beginning of the student teaching semester is subject to full division approval as well as an available time slot on the division meeting agenda. Additional requirements may be made of the candidate by the division. In such case, these requirements must be satisfactorily met and approved by the full division or designee (i.e. advisor, DFE, etc.). Whether or not additional requirements are established, the candidate must submit an updated student teaching application to the Office of Field Experiences before the third placement will be pursued. Once the updated student teaching application is received, the DFE determines if the third placement pursuit is possible for either of the next 2 subsequent semesters (excluding summer). A third placement will be subject to ease and availability rather than candidate preferences.

After Student Teaching Begins

Whenever a student teaching placement is terminated a second placement will not be pursued for the same semester.

If the terminated candidate maintains TEP admission status, the candidate must submit an updated student teaching application to the Office of Field Experiences before a second placement will be pursued. Once the updated student teaching application is received, the DFE determines if a second placement pursuit is possible for either of the next 2 subsequent semesters (excluding summer). Re-placement will be subject to ease and availability rather than candidate preferences.

If the terminated candidate loses admission to TEP status, he/she must meet with her/his advisor and/or the DFE, who will advise the candidate of options available at this point. If the candidate wishes to appeal his/her dismissal from TEP, she/he must follow the steps for Appeal and Reinstatement found in the Student Teaching Handbook. If the candidate is readmitted, he/she must submit an updated student teaching application to the Office of Field Experiences before a second placement will be pursued. Once the updated student teaching application is received, the DFE determines if the second placement pursuit is possible for either of the next 2 subsequent semesters (excluding summer). The second placement will be subject to ease and availability rather than candidate preferences.

Second placements after the initial student teaching semester begins must have full division approval, are subject to an available time slot on a division meeting agenda, and may be pursued only one (1) time. If the candidate’s commitment to a confirmed placement is still not satisfied with a second placement, the After 2 Confirmed Placements section of this policy (below) is applicable.

AFTER 2 CONFIRMED PLACEMENTS

If a candidate does not fulfill his/her student teaching placement commitment within 2 confirmed placements, she/he must submit a written explanation stating the circumstances for lack of fulfillment and identifying the changes he/she has, is, or will make (with completion dates) to insure her/his ability to fulfill his/her student teaching placement commitment in the future. This document must be signed, approved, and dated by the candidate’s advisor or designee, followed by full division approval.

If the candidate’s written statement is approved by both his/her advisor and the full division, a third placement pursuit will begin after the candidate submits an updated student teaching application and   proof of completion of all identified and approved changes to the Office of Field Experiences. The DFE must accept the proof of completion of identified changes and will not pursue a third placement before all identified changes have been completed and accepted.   Next, the DFE determines if the third placement pursuit is possible for either of the next 2 subsequent semesters (excluding summer). This third placement will be subject to ease and availability rather than candidate preferences.

Lack of fulfillment of a third confirmed student teaching placement results in removal from the program without an option for readmission and licensure through IUE.

*”Serious conflict of interest” is determined by the DFE and includes such as the following:

• CT is related to or has close familiarity with an ex-spouse or ex-significant other
• Discrimination toward the student teacher (race, religion, sex, age, etc.) is evident and verifiable.
• Issues brought to the attention of the DFE that fall into a dispositional category inappropriate to professional behaviors or attitudes.
• Other issues of serious concern which are brought to the attention of the DFE by the candidate in a timely manner (within a week following the date of the interview.)

“Serious conflicts of interest” do not include the following:

• Candidate does not like the daily schedule at the school.
• Candidate’s inconvenience.
• Candidate’s transportation problems (means or distance).

(February 5, 2004)