Teacher preparation/certification programs in Bloomington require 12-16 weeks of student teaching. An additional practicum of six weeks is required for students who are adding a license addition to the initial teaching area. When completing a license addition, the major student teaching assignment will be reduced to ten (10) weeks, with an additional six (6) weeks in the license addition subject area. Students completing a dual certification program like the TAL program will be required to complete student teaching in each of the initial certification areas (elementary generalist and elementary mild intervention).

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 rests 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 and school community. 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.

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 encouraged to student teach in their home town region in the school corporations on the list in which Indiana University Bloomington has a working relationship as placements fill up in the local area quickly. Students may not do their student teaching in the school in which a relative is employed. 

Requests by candidates to student teach outside of Indiana (except as part of Global Gateway) will be approved only in exceptional circumstances (e.g., family illness) and the decision must be approved by both the candidate’s program area faculty and the Academic Standards Committee.  When submitting an appeal to ASC, the documentation must include written verification from the program area faculty indicating their support.

Students also have the option of applying for student teaching and/or practicums in special areas through the Global Gateway for Teachers program, such as those provided by the Navajo Nation Program, the Urban Program and the Overseas Program. These types of assignments require specialized study. 

As of fall of 2016, most teacher candidates are required to complete a teacher performance assessment (edTPA) during student teaching. For additional information about edTPA, email stuteach@indiana.edu.

The Application Process 

Student Teaching begins with a mandatory application meeting. Prospective student teachers are required to sign up electronically for the meetings one full year before student teaching. Student teaching or practicums will be completed through IUB, unless an exception is granted by the appropriate authority.

Students are required to provide a criminal history check to the school districts before participating in student teaching. An initial background check is required with the student teaching application, as some corporations require a background check before considering a placement. Each school district has its own requirements for the type and means of obtaining and where those criminal history checks must be sent. Students will be required to contact the school corporation(s) in which they are placed for student teaching for that information. School districts may deny a student teaching assignment based on a misdemeanor or felony record.

Eligibility for Student Teaching and Practicum Require the Following: