Student Field Experiences

Information for students

Student Teaching

Special Site Information

Approval

Students apply for a special site student teaching placement by completing a Special Site Request form with an ISIS grade report print out attached and submitting it to their program area (as directed on the top of the request form).

• For approval, students should have a minimum 3.20 g.p.a. (overall, and in the program area), and demonstrate responsibility and initiative in program coursework.

• Additional application steps are required for English Education students interested in special site placement that include a written 500-800 word rationale describing reason(s) for a special site placement.

• Students requesting the Chicago area are also required to provide documentation of successful completion of a content test, secondary students need to complete the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Content Test (information available at http://www.icts.nesinc.com/)associated with their respective program area and elementary students may satisfy the Illinois content test by taking the Praxis II (information available at http://www.ets.org).  This will need to be completed by September for Spring placement and by January for Fall placement. Praxis II FAQ's: (http://www.education.uiowa.edu/tess/policy/testing.htm)

• Students must attend an informational Four O’Clock Meeting held the 4th week of the semester prior to the student teaching semester at which time information relative to their preferred special site is described in detail.

• Once approved for a special site student teaching placement, students must remain cognizant of the student teaching placement reality that while the Field Experiences Coordinators will be professional and diligent in initiating appropriate placement requests all placements are made at the discretion of the hosting institution (i.e., the college/university, district, school).

• Although a special site request form is submitted the student must indicate local placement preferences at the time of completing their student teaching application materials in the event that their special site request is not approved, or a placement at their requested special site can not be confirmed.

Site Options

Des Moines Area

• Regular Supervision is available in the Des Moines area for a limited number of elementary and secondary placements.
• Information relative to requesting specific districts/individual schools is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting a semester prior to student teaching.
• All placements are made at the districts’/individual schools’ discretion.

Iowa Regents Placements

• Placements at locations regularly used by Iowa State University and The University of Northern Iowa (Ames, Clear Lake, Council Bluffs/Omaha, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls).
• Information relative to requesting specific areas of the state/districts/individual schools is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting a semester prior to student teaching.
• Availability of Iowa Regents Placements is at the discretion of the hosting institution (i.e., ISU and UNI).

Chicago Area

• Students requesting the Chicago area are also required to provide documentation of successful completion of a content test, secondary students need to complete the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Content Test (information available at http://www.icts.nesinc.com/)associated with their respective program area and elementary students may satisfy the Illinois content test by taking the Praxis II (information available at http://www.ets.org).  This will need to be completed by September for Spring placement and by January for Fall placement. Praxis II FAQ's: (http://www.education.uiowa.edu/tess/policy/testing.htm)  This requirement will need to be met by the Four O'Clock Meeting a semester prior to student teaching.
• Regular Supervision is available in the Chicago area for a limited number of elementary and secondary placements.
• Placements are primarily made in the western, northwestern, and northern suburbs.
• Placements in schools in the City of Chicago School District are available upon request.
• Information relative to requesting specific districts/individual schools is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting a semester prior to student teaching.
• When possible, placements are clustered to allow for adequate supervision.
• All placements are made at the districts’/individual schools’ discretion.

Adams County Area (Denver, CO)

• Adams county school districts are located in the northern and northeastern suburbs of Denver.
• This placement option provides UI student teachers quality placements and supervision in districts with diverse populations.
• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements.
• The Adams County student teaching placement option is described in detail at the appropriate Four O'Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.

Aldine Independent School District (Houston, TX)

• The center of the 111 square mile Aldine ISD is located approximately 15 miles north of downtown Houston.
• The district has a steadily increasing student population, with 56,000+ students in over 80 campuses, making it one of the 12 largest districts in Texas.
• This partnership provides UI student teachers quality placements and supervision in a district with a diverse population, and strives to afford students who successfully complete their student teaching experience in the partnership job opportunities in the district.
• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements, with students typically choosing to live in apartments recommended by “Apartment Directions,” an apartment locating service familiar with the partnership program.
• The Aldine Student Teaching Partnership is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• For more information on the Aldine ISD, visit their Web site at www.aldine.k12.tx.us.

(Additional information available in notebook files in N310 LC.)

Clark County School District (Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, Laughlin, and other communities in the 8,000 square miles of Clark County, NV)

• The Clark County School District is the fastest growing and sixth largest district in the nation, with an enrollment of more than 240,000 students.
• The district hired over 1,300 new teachers for the 2000-2001 school year and anticipates similar needs for upcoming years.
• This partnership provides UI student teachers quality placements and supervision in a district with a diverse population, and strives to afford students who successfully complete their student teaching experience in the partnership job opportunities in the district.
• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements, with the district recommending appropriate apartment complexes.
• The Clark County Student Teaching Partnership is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.For more information on the Clark County School District, visit their Web site at www.ccsd.net.

(Additional information available in notebook files in N310 LC.)

Rialto Unified School District (Rialto, CA)

• The city of Rialto, a community of approximately 95,000, lies just north of Interstate 10, between the cities of San Bernardino and Fontana.The 55 square mile district serves over 30,000 students in seventeen elementary schools (K-5), five middle schools (6-8), and two senior high schools (9-12).
• This partnership provides UI student teachers quality placements and supervision in a district with a diverse population, and strives to afford students who successfully complete their student teaching experience in the partnership job opportunities in the district.
• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements, with the district recommending apartment complexes that typically offer rental agreements of less than a year, and often with reduced security deposits.
• The Rialto USD Student Teaching Partnership is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• For more information on the Rialto USD, visit their Web site at www.rialto.k12.ca.us.

(Additional information available in notebook files in N310 LC.)

St. Louis Park Public Schools (St. Louis Park, MN)

• The city of St. Louis Park is a community of approximately 44,000 which is situated just west of Minneapolis and east of Minnetonka, Minnesota.
• The school district has seven schools and four community education centers and serves about 4,200 students (K-12).  All seven of the schools have been designated as "Schools of Excellence" by the U.S. Department of Education.
• This partnership provides a very limited number of UI student teachers quality placements and supervision in a "Twin-Cities" district with a diverse population (2-3 student teachers each semester).
• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements.
• The St. Louis Park Student Teaching Partnership is described in detail at the appropriate Four O'Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• For more information on the St. Louis Park Public Schools, visit their Web site at http://www.slpschools.org/

International Placements

• International placements comprise the second half of a student’s student teaching semester, with the first eight weeks being completed in a stateside placement. If approved by the program area for such an arrangement, students can complete the first half of their student teaching at one of the special site placement sites described above (i.e., Des Moines, Iowa Regents, Chicago, Aldine, Clark County, Rialto).
• The eight-week stateside/eight-week international placement option is not an option approved by the English program area. Students in the English program area are required to complete a 16-week stateside placement. An international experience would be an additional seven-/eight-week experience.
• International placements are made through the Foundation for International Education; Dr. Ross Korsgaard, Director.
• School Placements are arranged by Area Regional Consultants, experienced educators in the respective countries who make the school placements and are available as needed for consultation throughout the placement.
• Placements are available in Australia, China, Costa Rica, England and Wales, India, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Russian Federation (Tomsk), Scotland, Spain (Avila), and Turkey (Istanbul), with students having the opportunity to identify the country (and when possible the area of the country) desired.
• Placements also may be available in international schools in other countries.
• Participants choose between commercial accommodations (hostels, bed and breakfasts) and board and room (home stays).
• The application process is described in detail at the appropriate Four O’Clock Meeting the semester prior to student teaching.
• Placement details typically are received near the end of the semester prior to student teaching, or during the break between sessions. Placements in certain countries may not be confirmed until the first few weeks of the student teaching semester.
• Expenses include a $200 placement fee payable to the Foundation for International Education, tuition (about the same as for students not participating in the program), transportation to/from the country of placement, and living expenses (housing/transportation/food in the host country, spending money).

(Additional information available in notebook files in N310 LC.)

Exceptional Circumstances

• Placements in areas where UI student teaching partnerships/programs are not established.
• Exceptional Circumstances placements require a formal appeal at the time of applying to student teach (a year prior to the student teaching semester).
• Appeals are submitted to the Coordinator of Student Field Experiences and include a letter describing the compelling need for an Exceptional Circumstances Placement (e.g., family relocation) and a current transcript.
• Appeals are reviewed and approved or denied by a faculty committee the semester prior to student teaching.
• Approved Exceptional Circumstances Placements require a $300 placement fee.