Approval and General Information

When to apply

The application process should be completed one year (2 semesters) in advance of the anticipated student teaching semester. Web submission of Fall applications are accepted from October 1st through November 30th and Spring applications from March 1st through April 30th.  An optional informational meeting on student teaching registration is scheduled during each of these periods.

Approval

Approval for student teaching is not automatic.  In the semester prior to student teaching, all applications are reviewed using the following criteria for admission to student teaching.

1. Review of scholarship in:
   1. GPA in major
   2. GPA in professional education courses
   3. CGPA in all courses attempted
2. Observation by faculty in courses and practicum assignments
3. Observation reports from practicum cooperating teachers
4. Recommendation relative to appropriate professional dispositions from faculty/staff
5. Completion of all professional education and major area courses

Important Notes

• Location of Placements. Most students complete a local student teaching experience (a 60-mile radius of Iowa City). This area includes Iowa City and the surrounding communities as well as Cedar Rapids, Muscatine, and any of the Quad-Cities (see local placement area map, district map, district web sites).
• Limited Availability of Iowa City Placements. The demand for placements in the Iowa City Community School District (including Coralville, Hills and North Liberty) significantly exceeds availability, these placements cannot be guaranteed.
• Site Preference. You cannot complete a student teaching experience in a school you attended, or in a school where you have worked, or have family.  You may, however, student teach in other buildings in a district you attended, have worked, or have family.
• Special Site.  Student teaching options outside of the 60-mile radius of Iowa City are available (see special site placement information and options).
• Elementary assignments are made based on the grade level requested as well as the grade level completed during the methods or reading practicum.
• Secondary assignments are made based upon the recommendations of the program coordinator.
• Transportation to the assigned school is the responsibility of the student.
• Do NOT try to arrange your own student teaching assignment by contacting a principal or teacher you know.  This request may be included on your application under "Personal Factors".  This permits compliance with individual district placement protocol.
• Application changes relative to your student teaching information (i.e., address, phone number, semester you plan to student teach, where you would like to student teach, withdrawal from TEP) should be reported to the Office of Student Field Experiences.
• Changing Site or grade level preference relative to your student teaching can be done up until the end of the third week of the semester prior to student teaching.  Changes in student teaching placement site preferences can be made by personally contacting the Office of Student Field Experiences (319/335-5361).  Beginning with the fourth week of the semester prior to the student teaching semester, a change in site preference requires that the student submit a letter to the Coordinator of Student Field Experiences describing the compelling reason for the change.  The request for change will be reviewed and the student notified of the decision within a week of receiving the request.  A change in site preference following the eighth week of the semester prior to the student teaching semester will require that the student postpone student teaching for a semester.
• Extenuating circumstances occasionally unexpected situations (e.g., illness of cooperating teacher) dictate a student teaching assignment change.  The Office of Student Field Experiences will facilitate changes as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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