Coordination of Schools and University

  1. Policies and Procedures are collaboratively developed and regularly reviewed by the university faculty and representatives of local school districts. 
  1. All placements are coordinated by the MSU Field Placement and Licensure Office (FPLO) in cooperation with the school district administrators where placements are being sought. 
  1. School administrators are made aware of the student teaching policies. All prospective teacher candidates (TCs) are provided equitable treatment by the FPLO and P-12 partners. 
  1. Cooperating teachers (CTs) and university field supervisors (FSs) have considerable teaching experience, are prepared to supervise teacher candidates, and are well informed of university policies. 
  1. The school administrator will assure that the cooperating teacher is well qualified and willing to work with a teacher candidate. Cooperating teachers must have a minimum of three years teaching experience at a similar grade level and subject area as that of the TC. 
  1. The FPLO will make every reasonable attempt to coordinate the best possible placement for the student. 
  1. Placements are arranged, as much as possible, so students will gain a variety of classroom experiences. 
  1. Students are placed where they will receive an unbiased assessment and will not be placed in a school district where they have friends or relatives in professional positions - or, in the case of secondary/K-12 candidates, in high schools from which they graduated within the previous five years.  This helps ensure an equitable experience for all candidates. 
  1. Because MSU FPLO facilitates rather than creates placements, student teaching assignments cannot be guaranteed.  Many factors go into the placement process over which MSU has little or no influence.  The best chances of obtaining a first-choice placement are gained by:
  1. creating a high-quality reputation for professionalism during practicum. 
  2. preparing a professional, high-quality student teaching file for review by prospective cooperating teachers and administrators. 

Stating your Preferences

  1. TCs are given an opportunity to request placements in a geographic region or within a specific school district. However, a student must be prepared to accept any placement coordinated by the MSU FPLO. 
  2. TCs are also given an opportunity to request placement at a preferred grade level. The FPLO attempts to place each candidate in the requested grade level. However, a TC may be assigned to any grade level appropriate to the candidate's licensure parameters.  MSU FPLO does not have control over the final placement.  P-12 administrators may adjust FPLO requests to reflect the priorities and resources in their schools. 
  3. If a student teacher does not accept MSU FPLO's first placement, another placement the same semester cannot be guaranteed.  Candidates who decline placements jeopardize timely completion of student teaching and risk being put on hold for one or more semesters. 

Requirements

  1. All coursework and program requirements must be completed before student teaching begins.  Prospective teacher candidates taking courses during the summer prior to their semester of student teaching must update the MSU FPLO with proof of passing those courses at least three weeks prior to their placement start date.  Courses necessary for TEP graduation cannot be taken during an MSU "Snowmester" immediately prior to student teaching unless approved by a variance process. 
  2. TCs must present proof of appropriate CPR/First Aid certification, successful FBI background check, minimum GPA requirements, and personal liability insurance prior to being placed for student teaching.  These are due by the student teaching interview and final file review by MSU FPLO. 

Placements – Geographic areas

  1. The terms "in-area" or ‘Bozeman Area’ include all the school districts within driving distance of the MSU campus, from Livingston to Willow Creek. Candidates should not request a local placement if they are unwilling to be placed in any of the districts in this area.  
  2. MSU FPLO does not accept requests for only Bozeman or Belgrade placements.  Each TEP student should be prepared to spend at least one semester in a teaching placement outside the immediate Bozeman area.  Based on 5-year data, FPLO annually compares in-area student teaching requests with available openings and then caps local placements for any subject areas in which demand is too high.  All in-area TCs seeking one of these limited placements must complete a specific application and qualify for in-area student teaching via a selection process.  Due to high demand, all TCs requesting in-area placements should be prepared with a backup plan. 
  1. MSU FPLO cannot guarantee a placement within walking or biking distance from a TC’s home or apartment. Candidates must be prepared to either drive or find a ride with someone else. 
  1. TCs must not negotiate their own placements with a teacher or a school administrator. This also applies to friends and relatives seeking placements on TC's behalf. Placements arranged in violation of this policy are subject to cancellation. 
  2. Out-of-state placements are granted to students who apply for them and have strong need to be placed in another state. As part of the application process, students must meet minimum standards of a 3.0 or better GPA in their major, minor, and content area courses at the time of their student teaching application.
  3. Students must submit two recommendations from MSU faculty who can speak to their potential for success in an out-of-state placement via a link provided as part of the student teaching application. 
  4. Students must maintain minimum 3.0 GPA through their student teaching semester.

International Student Teaching (Fall Semester Only)

  1. International placements are granted to students who apply for them and meet all requirements.  
  2. As part of the application process, students must meet minimum standards of a 3.0 or better GPA in their major, minor, content area courses at the time of their student teaching application.
  3. Students must submit recommendation forms from MSU faculty who can speak to the potential for success in an international placement.  Faculty recommendation forms are due when TCs apply to teach internationally and are completed online via a link provided as part of the student teaching application. 
  4. Students must maintain minimum 3.0 GPA through their student teaching semester.

Employment

  1. Working at a part-time job while student teaching is discouraged. If it is absolutely necessary to work while student teaching, priorities should be kept straight. It would be shortsighted to succeed at work and fail or do poorly at student teaching. 
  2. Teacher candidates may substitute teach, in their assigned classrooms, for a maximum of 5 days after a positive midterm evaluation with appropriate approval. Teacher candidates cannot be used as replacement teachers or long-term substitute teachers, even within the placement classroom. Please see the Substitute Teaching Policy below.

Dismissal

  1. If a teacher candidate is asked to leave a school district for any reason, that TC will be required to wait one year before reapplying to the MSU Teacher Education Program for another placement.  

Code of Conduct

Communication:

All potential problems/concerns related to the course, EDU 495, should be shared with the instructor of record early. All questions related to placements and licensure should be directed toward field placement personnel.

Professionalism

As pre-professionals approaching licensure, Teacher candidates will maintain high standards of professionalism in both placement and university contexts, All of the following should be carefully observed:

  1. MSU’s Professional Expectations and Competencies,
  2. Professional Educators of Montana Code of Ethics,
  3. Professional, appropriate relationships with students, including avoidance of non- academic or any personal/online contact.

Performance:

The MSU Student Teaching Performance Assessment is based on Danielson Framework 2022, (with all adjustments approved by The Danielson Group). MSU uses a 3-point rubric to assess your student teaching performance:

3 = “Proficient,”

2 = “Developing,”

1 = “Unsatisfactory.”

The current assessment has a maximum score of 63 points. Ratings of either “2” or “3” are considered acceptable for student teaching, so grading will not be based on a traditional percentage but will be adjusted using the conversions below:

55-63=A (with no “1” scores”)

50-54=A- (with no “1” scores”)

45-49=B+ (with no “1” scores”)

40-44=B (with no “1” scores”)

“1” scores (“Unsatisfactory”) may indicate that a candidate is non licensable in a given area.

Attendance & Timeliness:

Attendance, timeliness, and overall reliability in placement and coursework responsibilities show your readiness for a classroom of learners. Being trustworthy is a requirement of the profession and will be demonstrated during student teaching by following the policies below:

Absences:

You may be granted the equivalent of two work days (16 hours) of carefully chosen sick leave without losing placement hours. This leave can appropriately be used for tangible illness, unavoidable medical appointments, therapy appointments, family emergencies, or other health-related situations.

As in the case of a professional teacher, you must arrange for your absence by communicating as early as possible with both the CT & FS.

Because you contribute significantly to your classroom, when you do take sick leave, you will submit a sub plan to both the CT and FS for any responsibilities you would have fulfilled.

If your sick leave exceeds 48 hours, you will disclose those hours to the MSU FPLO Director or Assistant Director, who will review the request and, if approved, add them to the placement days.

Tardies:

 

Canvas Submissions:

The four REP submissions are permitted one instructor-excused extension to still receive submission points.

Provide your coach with questions about coach feedback or requests for one-on-one conferences within 7 days after the coach posts feedback.

Planning

  • You will use the Bobcat Lesson Plan for all formal observations prior to midterm and all five REP lesson plans.
  • Provide approved lesson plans for the two formal CT observations 48 hours in advance.
  • Provide approved lesson plans to the field supervisor 24 hours in advance.
  • Send a copy of the REP data collection tool to each REP observer 24 hours in advance of the observation.

Co-Teaching:

MSU encourages all CTs and TCs to engage in a co-teaching model that fits the unique needs of the classroom.

Reporting:

If you witness signs of K-12 student abuse or neglect, you must report these observations using the protocols below:

  1. TC reports to the teacher/administrator
  2. TC reports to the Director of Field Placement
  3. Director of Field Placement follows up with the school administrator to ensure the matter has been reported and then documents that the matter was reported to the school.

For More Information

These policies along with additional information for student teachers can also be found in the Student Teaching Handbook. The student teaching handbook is located in the Canvas Course. Please refer to the handbook when encountering a situation that requires guidance. This can assist in solving the problem by yourself or directing you to the appropriate member of staff.