Field Placement in Schools Policy

All field placements, including student teaching, are arranged by the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services with collaboration from the Student Teaching Coordinator and Department Chairperson. Students are not to solicit placements. Student teaching placements are made in public schools. While students' needs are considered in assigning placements, no particular placement can be guaranteed. All placements are within one hour of the university. Transportation to and from field placements and student teaching is the responsibility of the individual student.

Designated courses require early field experience to observe and work with PK-12 students in schools and other settings. Candidates must have a current TB test result, Pennsylvania State Criminal History Record, Federal Criminal History Report, and Department of Human Services Child Abuse Report before they can enter an early field experience setting. Under no circumstances may candidates complete field experiences without the proper clearances. Clearances must also be submitted to, reviewed, and verified by the Office of Candidate Services before candidates may enter the field. Please review the Guidance Sheet tab in the table of contents for courses that require clearances. University policy gives the Dean of the College of Education and Social Work the authority to revoke enrollment in early field experience courses of any candidate who fails to provide criminal clearances.

Candidates complete field experiences in four levels during their program. 

LEVEL I: OBSERVATION 

Candidates are required to complete approximately 10 observation hours in each Level I field course. Candidates are to adhere to the instructions and policies of EGP course faculty to complete appropriate observation videos. 

  • EGP 209: Child Development—Prebirth through 5 Years
  • EGP 210: Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development 

LEVEL II: EXPLORATION 

Candidates are placed by the instructor in K-4 classrooms. Candidates assist the teacher, learn the procedures of the classroom, work with small groups of students, and teach a minimum of one lesson. 

  • EGP 220: Theory and Field Experiences in the Early Grades 
  • MAT 361: Field Experiences in Elementary Mathematics (2 credits)

LEVEL III: PRE STUDENT TEACHING 

As an integral part of courses in pre-school teaching and literacy, candidates are placed in pre-school and Grades K-4 classrooms to instruct young children. Candidates should refer to the pacing guide for suggested sequence of courses.

  • EGP 322: Pre-Kindergarten Methods and Field Experiences (6 credits)
  • EDR 317: Reading Instruction and Practicum (6 credits)

LEVEL IV: STUDENT TEACHING  

Approval for Student Teaching

Student teaching is the culminating experience of the educator preparation program. Candidates must complete student teacher applications via the program's assessment system (Anthology) one year before the semester in which they intend to teach. 

Candidates must apply through the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services for approval for student teaching placements. All candidates must meet the following criteria in order to student teach:  

  • Achieved Teacher Candidacy 
    • Have earned final passing grades, in all professional preparation requirements as indicated in the degree guidance sheet,
    • Earned the required credits per program (see program guidance sheet) prior to the student teaching experience, including all professional educational courses and all specialized preparation courses with necessary grade prerequisites, with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or above
  • Completed the following forms:  
    • Student teaching application (must be submitted within one full year prior to the academic semester in which student teaching is to be scheduled). See CESW policy below.
    • PA Child Abuse History Certification
    • Criminal Record Check-PA State Police 
    • FBI Background Fingerprinting Check 
    • TB testing.  
  • Registered as they would for any other University courses. 
  • Attended a student teaching pre-registration meeting one year prior to student teaching. (The Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services will notify students of preregistration meetings.)
  • See department webpage and/or handbook for specific programmatic requirements.

To be eligible to complete a student teaching experience, candidates (undergraduates and post-baccalaureates) must have: 

  • Completed the prerequisite course requirements, 
  • Met the grade point average (3.0) or higher,
      • Pennsylvania’s Chapter 354 and therefore, the PA Department of Education, requires a 3.0 for candidacy. However, those with a 2.8 or above may be conditionally admitted. Please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services for questions.
  • Satisfied the requirements for Teacher Candidacy.

All candidates for certification must take all required licensure tests prior to student teaching. Please review all testing information for specific details regarding the testing requirements for your area of certification. 

See program listings and advising sheets for specifics and any additional program requirements. Candidates should contact their departments for specific requirements.

Candidates are assigned a student teaching placement in schools with which the University has a formal agreement. 

Policies Applicable to Student Teaching

  1. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum cumulative GPA necessary for student teaching must take courses under the guidance of their advisor to achieve the required GPA.
  2. All West Chester University Early Grades Preparation majors must complete the full twelve (12) credits of student teaching.
  3. The Coordinator of Field Experiences will make every reasonable attempt to provide candidates with varied field placements (rural, urban, suburban).
  4. Conditions under which the Department of Early and Middle Grades Education will allow candidates to take an additional course during student teaching.
      1. Minimum 3.0 GPA
      2. All professional education and specialized methods courses must be taken before student teaching. Exception: EGP 400 Classroom Management may be completed concurrently with student teaching.
      3. A general education or elective course is acceptable with the approval of the Department Chairperson or Coordinator of Student Teaching.
      4. A candidate may take no more than three (3) additional credits while student teaching.  

Policies related to Student Teaching 

Fall Student Teaching Placement

Candidates seeking to student teach during the fall semester should submit all appropriate information no later than *February 15th of the previous academic semester. Completed applications submitted on or before this date will have priority over incomplete or late applications. We encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible to ensure a placement within a school district:

  • Attend the Pre-Registration meeting one year in advance (previous fall semester)
  • February 1st - Submit the student teaching application
  • February 15th - Completed applications are submitted to school districts

Late applications or those that were returned because they were incomplete can be submitted no later than *February 23rd to be considered for student teaching in the fall semester.

  • Applications not completed by this date will not be considered for student teaching during the fall semester.

Spring Student Teaching Placement

Candidates seeking to student teach during the spring semester should submit all appropriate information no later than *September 15th of the previous academic semester. Completed applications submitted on or before this date will have priority over incomplete or late applications (see below). We encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible to ensure a placement within a school district:

  • Attend the Pre-Registration meeting one year in advance (previous spring semester)
  • July 1st - Submit the student teaching application
  • September 15th - Completed applications are submitted to school districts

Late applications or those that were returned because they were incomplete can be submitted no later than *September 23rd to be considered for student teaching in the spring semester.

  • Applications not completed by this date will not be considered for student teaching during the spring semester.

*If this date falls on the weekend, the completed application is due the following work day.