Clinical Studies for Education Programs
Time Requirements
Calendar and Schedules
Student teaching is a full-time, full day commitment. Student teachers are expected to plan their schedules to coincide with those of their mentor teachers and partner schools. This includes before- and after-school meetings, in-service training sessions, extra-curricular activities, evening parent conferences, field trips (including overnight trips), etc. Student teachers follow the calendars of the schools and districts in which they are placed, not the University calendar. Please note that school district calendars may vary. School days lost due to inclement weather must be made up unless schools are closed due to an official "state of emergency." Calendars specific to degree programs will be made available prior to the start of student teaching. An outline of the clinical semester and links to school and district calendars can be found at the website.
Graduate Student Teaching Time Requirements
MAT and MEE student teaching (MAS 8801 and MEE 8801) require 60 pupil days in an approved setting. MSE Student Teaching (MSE 8802, 6 – 9 credits) requires 40 or 60 pupil days, depending upon when the student started the program. Since some candidates are already teaching or working in educational settings, some flexibility in field experiences is possible. Candidates should discuss placement issues with a faculty advisor and with the Regional Chair for Clinical Studies before making application for student teaching.
Undergraduate Student Teaching Time Requirements
Fall semester BS/AS student teaching begins on the first teacher day following the placement school's summer break. Spring semester BS/AS student teaching begins on the first teacher day following the placement school's winter break. Check the website link to the DE DOE for month-by-month school calendars for every district and school in the state. Some modifications in individual candidate schedules are possible, primarily for student teachers placed in school districts that have adopted a Balanced or Year-Round Calendar schedule (12-month schools).
AS (Associate Degree) placements are for 45 complete teaching days. Registration for AS program student teaching (ECE 216 Z) is accomplished by using an Academic Approval Form prepared by the Regional Chair for Clinical Studies. The BS clinical semester will require 60 pupil days. BS students also complete an assessment course during the clinical semester. Classes are held weekly, one evening a week and do NOT count toward pupil-day requirements. Specific information regarding class schedules is available on the university website under course listings.
Reporting Absences during Student Teaching
Student teachers must notify their mentor teachers and their clinical advisors of personal absences due to illness or emergency. It is not sufficient to notify the office at the placement school. Many schools have 24-hour telephone systems with links to teacher extensions. These systems make it very easy to notify mentor teachers of an unexpected absence. Student teachers are expected to "make up" any time missed, regardless of reasons for the absence. Student teachers keep a daily log of their hours.
This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2011-2012 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2011 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.
