Most teacher preparation/certification programs in Bloomington require a minimum of 12-16 weeks of student teaching. In addition to student teaching, a practicum of six weeks is often required for those students who are eligible to add an endorsement or minor to the basic teaching area. In those cases, the major student teaching assignment will be reduced to 10 weeks, with an additional 6 weeks in the additional area. Students completing dual cetification programs like the TAL program will be required to complete 8 weeks in each of the initial certification areas and an additional 6 weeks in the endorsement or minor area, this requires the student teaching and practicum to be spread over two semesters. See:  http://education.indiana.edu/studentteaching.

Both student teaching and practicums are full-day, full-time, off-campus, school-based experiences that are completed in consecutive weeks. The extent of actual student teacher or practicum student involvement and the assumption of full class responsibilities rest upon the mutual agreement of the student, the supervising teacher, and the university supervisor. Augmentation of the program is achieved through participation in the total education activities of the school, school community, and such participation is regarded as an integral part of the experience, not optional or supplemental.

The student teaching experience has been carefully designed to be as realistic and as intensive as actual teaching, including placing student teachers in schools with carefully selected and qualified supervising teachers. Supervision from the university is provided by professionals who have been successful classroom teachers and administrators. For more information about student teaching and practicum experiences, refer to the student teaching Web site Arrangements for placement and supervsiion are provided by the Office of Student Teaching. Student are given an opportunity to express a preference for the type and location of school to which they will be assigned. Most placements are made in the public and private school—elementary, middle, junior high and senior high—statewide for students on the Bloomington campus. In-state students are encouarged to student teach in their home town region as placements fill up in the local area quickly with priority given to those students whose families reside in Bloomington, out-of-state and international students. Students must petition the Academic Standards Committee for consideration of out-of-state placements.

Students also have the option of applying for student teaching and/or practicums in special areas, such as those provided by for American Indian Reservations, the Chicago Urban project and overseas. These types of assignments require specialized study. See the section of this bulletin entitled "Student Teaching/Practicum Options."

The Application Process Student Teaching begins with a mandatory application meeting. Prospective student teachers are required to sign up electronically at http://education.indiana.edu/studentteaching for the meetings one full year before student teaching. The application must be submitted to the campus through which the experience is intended. Student teaching or practicums will be completed through the campus where the methods course(s) are taken, unless an exception is granted by the appropriate authority.

You will be required to provide a criminal history check to the school districts before participating in student teaching. Each school district has their own requirements for the type, means of obtaining and where those criminal history checks must be  sent. Students will be required to contact the school corporation(s) in whcih they are placed for student teaching for that information. School districts may deny student teaching assignment based on a misdemeanor or felony record.

Eligibility Requirements for Student Teaching and Practicum Require the Following:

1. Unconditional admission to the teacher education program.
2. Be a senior or graduate in the university, or be within two semesters and one summer session of graduation. (In no case should a student have completed fewer than 84 credit hours prior to the semester in which the student teaching and/or practicum is to be done.)
3. Completed at least three-fourths of the number of credit hours required for licensing in the major and the minor or endorsement area if student teaching or a practicum is required.
4. Earned a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 at Indiana University.
5. Apply for student teaching or practicum one year before expected start date of placement.
6. Atended the mandatory application meeting and submitted all requested materials..
7. Completed all professional education courses, including required laboratory field experience courses, and have attained a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all professional education courses. A minimum grade of C must be attained in each professional education course.
8. Elementary, early childhood, or elementary/exceptional needs major. Maintained a minimum GPA of 2.0 in subject matter courses within each of the following areas: mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts; and a GPA of 2.5 in area of concentration.
9. Secondary or all school settings programs require a minimum GPA of 2.5 in each certification area (except Mathematics) and a 2.0 in the general education requirements.
10. Show proficiency in the area(s) in which the student teaching or practicum is to be done. This requires a school, department, project, or program recommendation; and may also include passing a required qualifying examination or meeting other requirements established by the respective school, department, project, or program that has been approved.
11. Transfer students must be enrolled at least one semester or summer in education courses on the Bloomington campus before student teaching and taken all professional education coruses through Indaina University.

Students found ineligible for student teaching or a practicum may appeal this decision on the campus where the application was submitted. At Bloomington, students should follow the appeals processes described in the section entitled “Student Appeals.”