Selection of School Site for Student Teaching

Selection of schools shall be based on the commitment of the administration and instructional faculty to participate in the preparation of teachers, their qualification to supervise student teachers and the appropriateness of the qualification to supervise student teachers and the appropriateness of the resources of the educational agency as a laboratory site for student teaching.

The educational program of the school system chosen must meet a sufficient number of hours per day and satisfy the days/weeks required of schools to be in session to meet the requirement as a site for student teaching.

School systems must provide liability insurance for student teachers during the period that they are engaged in the process of fulfilling the student teaching requirement according to state code.

Since the UNI student teaching program involves a network of student teaching centers with clusters of schools, educational agencies considered as sites for student teaching should be within a reasonable distance from the school system in which the resident coordinator resides.

Special Area Majors

Special area majors (art, health, music, physical education) must complete a two-level student teaching assignment (i.e., senior high/elementary; elementary/middle school) to receive the K-12 certification.

Student Teacher Evaluation

Evaluation is an integral part of the student teaching process. It is essential that student teachers recognize that evaluation is mutually planned and conducted with the cooperating teacher and coordinator/supervisor. It should be noted that the UNI coordinator does have the final responsibility for all evaluation matters related to student teachers.

The student teaching is graded on a CREDIT/NO CREDIT system.

The student teacher may secure a copy of the final evaluation through MyUniverse following the end of the student teaching periods.

Student Teaching Assignments

Student teaching assignments are defined as tentative (all requirements have been met) or provisional (all requirements have not been met). Assignments may be cancelled if the GPA (UNI and transfer) drops below the minimum requirement or the student teacher has not completed the necessary requirements.

Student Teaching Periods, Holidays and Spring Break

Student teachers for fall will begin on the first workshop day for their assigned district or as assigned by the center coordinator. The beginning dates and ending dates may differ between centers and school systems. Student teachers for spring will begin on the date that classes resume at the university or as assigned by the center coordinator. The beginning dates and ending dates may differ between centers and school systems.

Student teachers will have the same vacation periods as their assigned school system and are expected to observe that district’s calendar. Public school vacations in most cases will not be the same as the university’s.

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