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For the student teaching experience, student teachers spend fifteen weeks teaching full-time in classrooms. Student teachers are expected to devote their full attention to the student teaching experience and are supported in this endeavor by an experienced mentor teacher and a full-time university supervisor.

Student teaching opportunities for the PK-4 are offered in various locations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, students in these majors may opt to participate in a year-long professional development school experience or to student teach at the Pierre Indian Learning Center in Pierre, South Dakota. We also offer a short-term student teaching abroad opportunity for these majors.

Locations in Pennsylvania

  • Central Region: a variety of schools and school districts within a 70 mile radius of University Park
  • Greater Philadelphia Region: a variety of schools within the greater Philadelphia region
  • Greater Pittsburgh Region: a variety of schools and school districts within and around the greater Pittsburgh area

Locations Outside of Pennsylvania

Requirements and Documentation

  1. Clearances: On the first day of class, you must present your field experience instructor with photocopies of the following:
    1. Valid Act 34--Criminal History Clearance
    2. Valid Act 151--PA Child Abuse Clearance
    3. Valid FBI Fingerprint Clearance
    4. Arrest/ Conviction Report and Certification Form (Act 24)
    Department policy requires evidence of the above-noted clearances and verifications on the first class day of the semester. If you do not have valid clearances (that is, you have an offense listed), please see your supervisor. You must retain the original copy of each of the clearances and verifications noted previously. Photocopies only are to be given to field experience instructors and will not be returned.
  2. Liability Insurance: Verification of Professional Liability Insurance (Liability insurance must be current throughout the duration of the field experience.)
  3. Tuberculosis Test: Verification of a valid tuberculosis test.
  4. Guest Host Form (signed).
  5. Mandated Reporter Training.
  6. Transportation: You must have, or have arranged for, transportation to and from your placement site.