Student Teaching Placement Information

General Placement Information

• • 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. (Building Substitute positions will not meet requirements for a placement if you are not in the same classroom each day) 

  • 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.

Student Teaching Placement Information

The Field Placement Office must receive your completed application by the due date.

A completed application consists of all required information and documentation, including a one-page resume and one-page essay that details what you hope to gain from student teaching and why you should be considered a candidate for student teaching. Place your name on the essay but do not address it to a person or school.

The Field Placement Office will process applications as they are received.

The Field Placement Office is dependent upon the good will of local districts and schools for placements. Late or incomplete applications will be processed only after timely applicants have been placed.

Grade level preferences are taken into consideration for Student Teaching, however this does not mean that your will be placed in your preferred grade band. Placement availability varies each semester. 

Students are assigned to locations based on program considerations. Placements are generally based on school availability and supervisory needs.

Some district and/or school officials interview students before a placement decision is made. These districts will contact teacher candidates directly to set up an interview. Be prepared and dress professionally.

Not all applicants are accepted. 

You will not be placed if you have not met the prerequisite requirements set forth in the appropriate University catalog.

The Field Placement Office will notify you of your placement at the earliest opportunity. Notification is dependent upon the timely action of host districts and schools.

Students are encouraged to remove and/or reduce work and other responsibilities to the fullest extent possible so as to limit interference with student teaching and related academic requirements.

Your academic record, progress in student teaching, and other relevant information will be shared with authorized personnel who have a legitimate educational interest.

Undergraduate, Graduate PreK-4 and ECE Pathways Student Teaching: 

This is a placement for 15 weeks that will take place every day.

• • • Dual Certification Majors (PreK-4/ SPED) may have a split placement between two settings (one for the first half of the semester and one for the second half of the semester) to meet the requirements for both certification areas. 

Graduate Special Education Student Teaching: 

This is a placement that will take place for two back-to-back 8-week sessions every day.

Placement Type #1: 

Partner School Placements

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.

Placement Type #2: 

Request to complete Practicum or Student Teaching at Your Place of Employment 

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/181mDTErnGOTLUhfdAuh118O7j1cZn1nGReuCoG1Dp_s/copy  

Placement Type #3: 

Request from a School to complete Practicum or Student Teaching

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.