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Student Teaching Outside the Consortium Area

In partnership with the MidValley Consortium (MVC), student teachers are placed in seven school divisions: Augusta, Page, Rockingham, and Shenandoah Counties; and Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro City Schools. 
Special requests to student teach outside of the MVC require approval from Field Placement Coordinator and Chair of undergraduate education department and are subject to the following criteria:

• The student teaching placement must provide the student teacher with a cultural or educational context not readily available in the MVC.
• The student teaching placement must provide a strong support base for the student teacher.
• The student teaching placement must be adequately supervised by qualified teachers and school personnel.
• The student teaching placement must provide a solid match between the student teacher's major area of preparation and the resources offered by the placement itself.
• The first student teaching experience must be completed in the consortium area. Special placement requests will be dealt with on an individual basis.
• A faculty member in the education department must provide a written letter of recommendation for the student teacher.
• The student teacher shall be responsible for transportation costs of the EMU university consultant that exceed 100 miles per round trip.

Additionally, applicants who wish to student teach away from the MV consortium must:

• write a letter to the Coordinator of Field Placements stating why s/he wishes to student teach in a different locale
• demonstrate success in her/his first placement
• demonstrate maturity, independence, academic competence, promptness in completing tasks, and flexibility in dealing with new situations
• pay any additional costs incurred as a result of the supervisory arrangements and communication expenses
• take responsibility for all living arrangements and transportation

Approved by COTE May 15, 2018 

Guidelines for Student Teaching in your Own Classroom

A school division may offer a student a teaching contract before a student has begun his/her student teaching experience, or after the first placement. In these rare situations, it may be possible for a student teacher to student teach "in his/her own classroom." The decision whether or not to support such an experience belongs to the Chair of Undergraduate Teacher Education and Field Placement Coordinator but must be consistent with the unit's out-of-area placement policy. Out-of-state placements are generally not permitted. The following guidelines must be considered and followed in determining whether or not a student may student teach in his/her own classroom. 
Student Teacher Qualifications:

• submit a written request to student teach "in his/her own classroom" to the Coordinator of Field Placements
• student teacher must have completed all requirements for graduation and teacher certification except student teaching
• student teacher must be unconditionally admitted to student teaching
• student teacher must have met the Praxis Subject Assessment requirements

Classroom Setting:

• grade level, subject area, and classroom composition must meet appropriate licensure requirements
• classroom placements need to meet the following criteria: Early Childhood—two different seven-week placements in PreK-3; Elementary Education—one seven-week placement in grades K-3 and one seven-week placement in grades 4-6; PreK-12 (Art, Foreign Language, Health & PE, Music, SPED, and Theater)—one seven-week placement in K-5 and one seven-week placement in grades 6-8 or 9-12; Secondary Education—one seven-week placement in grades 6-8 and one seven-week placement in grades 9-12
• student teaching may, in creative and unusual configuration, provide for dual placements and certifications while meeting the needs of the school division
• student teacher must be designated as the classroom teacher or as an aide or paraprofessional in another teacher's classroom
• if the student teacher is employed as an aide or paraprofessional, s/he must be allowed to complete all of the experiences required of student teachers
• student teacher must register for all appropriate student teaching semester courses.
• length of experience must conform to the appropriate approved program/accreditation guidelines, and may be extended if necessary; details will be outlined in a specific agreement approved by EMU, the school division or designee, and the student teacher
• student teacher must complete all program requirements for student teaching, including supplemental seminars and any "products" such as lesson/unit plans, portfolios, journals, etc.
• remuneration agreements are negotiated between the student teacher and the school division, and do not involve the university.

Onsite Mentor/Cooperating Teacher:

• mentor must meet all cooperating teacher qualifications; clinical faculty training is strongly recommended
• mentor must be agreed upon by the school division and EMU education department
• mentor must complete a minimum of five formal observations
• mentor must complete all other paperwork expected of cooperating teachers
• mentor must meet with the university supervisor a minimum of two times

Building/Onsite Administrator:

• administrator may be the building principal or assistant principal, or the appropriate central office supervisor
• administrator must observe the student teacher at least twice, once at the midpoint and once at the end of the experience, using either the university's administrator observation form or the school division observation form
• administrator must submit copies of the completed observation forms to the university supervisor

University Consultant:

• university consultant must visit and/or observe the student teacher at least once every other week
• university consultant must complete a minimum of five formal observations
• university consultant must complete all other paperwork required for normal student teaching placements
• university consultant must meet with the student teacher and mentor a minimum of two times

Other:
The Chair of Undergraduate Teacher Education and the Coordinator of Field Placements will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis. In making this decision, consideration will be given to the location and appropriateness of the new teaching position, the student teacher's progress during his/her student teaching experience, continued supervision by the university supervisor, and the support to be provided by the requesting school. 
Approved by COTE May 15, 2018