Your placement must meet the requirements for your certification area.
Your placement must be in a classroom with a cooperating teacher that holds a valid certification (in your certification area) and has taught in that certification for three complete school years.
The placement must be in the same classroom.
If you have a health condition, disability or special need that may require accommodations at your host school site, please contact Accessibility Services and speak with the Field Placement Coordinator.
Special Circumstances are considered based on need. Examples: Transportation, Childcare, etc.
YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ASK SCHOOLS TO HOST YOU FOR A FIELD EXPERIENCE.
Applicants must be formally accepted to the School of Education and meet all prerequisite requirements.
Undergraduate Students- Must be enrolled in junior-level courses at the time of placement.
Graduate Students- Will be registered for Practicum at the same time as the appropriate methods course.
A child abuse or criminal record may prevent a student from being placed in a school setting and/or exclude the student from the possibility of certification. Failure to disclose any prior arrest or conviction may lead to dismissal from the School of Education.
Students are assigned to Practicum locations based on program considerations. Placements are generally based on school availability and supervisory needs.
Grade level preferences are not taken into consideration for Practicum.
The placement is on Tuesdays for 15 weeks for each practicum. (Practicum I & II)
For Undergraduate students and ECE Pathways, Practicum I and II placements generally vary by region and grade level. The Field Placement Office will endeavor to provide students with an urban and suburban experience and exposure to varied grade levels.
Practicum placements need to cover different grade bands within your certification area. One practicum placement will be in one grade band and the second will cover the opposite.
PreK-4: (PreK-1st) (2nd-4th)
PreK-4/ Special Education PK-12: (PreK-1st) (2nd-4th)
Special Education PK-12: (PreK-6th) (7th-12th)
Secondary Education: (7th-8th) (9th-12th)
Art Education: (PreK-6th) (7th-12th)
The placement is on Tuesdays (can be adjusted with your supervisor's approval and consent if it is being done at your place of employment) for 8 weeks each practicum. (Practicum I, II & III) There is an option to complete practicum during the summer for certain programs and students with special circumstances if it is approved by your advisor and the field placement office.
For Graduate students, Practicum I and II placements generally can be completed in your place of work if you are in a school setting that meets the requirements for placement. (See placement type 2 information below) Practicum III will need to be in a different grade setting to meet the requirements for certification. If your place of employment can accommodate this you will be able to complete the placement there. If your place of employment can not accommodate an alternate grade placement or you wish to complete your practicum outside of your place of employment the Field Placement Office will find a placement for you. The Field Placement Office will endeavor to provide students with an urban and suburban experience and exposure to varied grade levels.
Practicum placements need to cover different grade bands within your certification area. Two practicum placement will be in one grade band and the third will cover the opposite.
PreK-4: (PreK-1st) (2nd-4th)
PreK-4/ Special Education PK-12: (PreK-1st) (2nd-4th)
Special Education PK-12: (PreK-6th) (7th-12th)
Secondary Education: (7th-8th) (9th-12th)
Art Education: (PreK-6th) (7th-12th)
The Field Placement Office has many partner schools that are used to place students in the field. These include, public schools (Philadelphia and suburbs), charter schools, private schools and catholic schools.
A partner school is selected for you based on availability.
When placed at a Partner School, you are typically placed in a cohort with your peers. This means there will be group of students placed at the same location in different classrooms. This allows you to collaborate with your peers during the field experience.
Click here to find out more about the Cohort Experience.
The Field Placement Office highly recommends this option as it has been proven to be very beneficial for students.
If you are employed in a school setting and are requesting to complete your Practicum or Student Teaching at your place of employment. Please note that the practicum or Student Teaching must be completed in a classroom that will meet the needs of your program and certification area.
Your position must meet the requirements for your certification area.
The placement must be in a classroom with a cooperating teacher that holds a valid certification (in your certification area) and has taught in that certification for three complete school years.
The placement must be in the same classroom.
You must have your principal sign off agreeing that you will be able to complete your practicum in the building.
It is your responsibility to check with the district you are teaching in if you are allowed to complete your practicum or student teaching in the district.
We have the discretion to approve or deny your request if it does not meet the PDE guidelines and the Field Placement Office requirements.
Your site could possibly be denied based on distance from Holy Family University.
If you are currently working as a building sub, PDE does not allow the constant rotation of different classrooms even within the same grade. The placement needs to be consistent.
Practicum will take place every Tuesday throughout the semester. Student teaching will take place everyday throughout the semester.
Check with your advisor to make sure that your place of employment will meets the requirements of your program.
Request to Complete Field Work at Place of Employment Form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AkLNfxByiNMGv2dGp0NUCBAXfUYqb2aVicr4qsWuUYo/copy
If a school has requested to host you for practicum or student teaching, the field placement office will try to honor these requests if all of the following requirements are met. This is only considered if you have had a previous experience in this school (previous practicum, observation or professional relationship) and the school has mentioned you returning.
YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ASK SCHOOLS TO REQUEST YOU.
Requirements:
Letter from the principal of the school making the request. (This can be an email sent to the Field Placement Office) This must include the name and email of the principal, the name and email of the cooperating teacher, affirmation that the cooperating teacher has a valid certification, the certification area of the cooperating teacher, an affirmation the cooperating teacher has 3 or more years teaching experience and an affirmation that there are no personal connections to any staff members or students in the building. (Family members, friends, significant others, etc.)
Letter from the cooperating teacher that you will be placed with. (This can be an email sent to the Field Placement Office) This must include the name and email of the cooperating teacher, affirmation that the cooperating teacher has a valid certification, the certification area of the cooperating teacher, an affirmation the cooperating teacher has 3 or more years teaching experience and an affirmation that there are no personal connections to any staff members or students in the building. (Family members, friends, significant others, etc.)
Confirmation from the district that you will be able to complete your practicum or student teaching in the district.
It is your responsibility to check with the district if you are allowed to complete your practicum or student teaching in the district.
Your site could possibly be denied based on distance from Holy Family University and/or at the discretion of the Field Placement Office.
Request From School Form
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WD9oVimHZvCTZ542WEukGhqTZjDRzzejsmg3CrwQUhg/copy