Liability of a board of education, trustee, trustees or board of cooperative educational services, Section 3023 of the NYS Education Law requires, in effect, that each school district “save harmless and protect all teachers, practice or cadet teachers, and members of supervisory and administrative staff or employees from financial loss arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or other act resulting in accidental bodily injury to any person or accidental damage to the property of any person within or without the school building, provided such teacher, practice or cadet teacher … at the time of the accident or injury the individual was acting in the discharge of his duties within the scope of employment or authorized volunteer duties and/or under the direction of the Board of Education.” A candidate who is involved in any such accident must immediately inform their cooperating or mentor teacher and school administrator and notify the college supervisor as soon as possible thereafter.
Qualifications of teachers, Section 3001 of the NYS Education Law, Subsection 2, states that a teacher candidate is legally permitted to practice teaching without the presence of the certified teacher in the classroom providing the classroom certified teacher is available at all times and retains supervision of the teacher candidate.
NYS Education Law Sections 803a, 804, 806 and 808
Training is provided in preventing child abduction (803a), prevention of tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse (804), safety education (806), fire and arson prevention (808) and the Dignity for All Students Act in SSHS 1020 Safe Schools, Healthy Schools and DASA 1020.
NYS Social Service Law Section 413
Persons and officials required to report cases of suspected child abuse or maltreatment, Section 413 of the NYS Social Service Law, states that pre-service teachers, like their in-service counterparts, are required “to report or cause a report to be made…when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is an abused or maltreated child…” Should a teacher candidate become aware of information in this regard, they are expected to consult with their cooperating or mentor teacher and school administrator immediately, and contact the college supervisor as soon as possible thereafter. The cooperating or mentor teacher and school administrator should provide the teacher candidate with the name of the individual designated by the district to report matters of abuse or neglect, and should assist the teacher candidates in the event that a report is filed. Training is provided for this in SSHS 1020 – Safe Schools, Healthy Students.