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Return to: 1600 Undergraduate Educator Preparation
Classroom Observations
Prior to acceptance into a teacher education program, students enrolled in courses which require observation experiences in a school setting will complete the online application for observation placements.
Prior to completing the online application, students must complete a criminal background check through the university-approved vendor. Instructions for the background check are provided at education.gsu.edu/college-forms-and-policies/#criminal-background-checks.
Students can access the online application at education.gsu.edu/office-of-field-placements/#classroom-observations.
If the course requires the student to complete an observation in a community setting as designated by the course instructors, students do not need to submit an observation application to the Office of Field Placements and Certification and may manage their own placement request.
Policy Regarding Tort Liability
Teacher education and counseling students are required to purchase tort liability prior to placements in field experience courses, practica, or student teaching. Students will be expected to show proof of coverage to program coordinators/supervisors prior to field placements.
Educational Field Experiences and Student Teaching
Educational field experiences and student teaching are clinical in nature. They are designed to complement the humanistic, behavioral, and pedagogical studies in teacher education and to offer experiences in a variety of settings.
At the baccalaureate level, a sequence of clinical and field experiences is planned to complement the professional education courses included in the students programs of study.
The Opening School Experience provides practical experience in the school and classroom setting during the week of preplanning and the first week of school. Students learn effective procedures necessary for setting up a classroom at the beginning of the year. This takes place at the beginning of the students’ senior year prior to the student teaching experience. Students should check with their departments for the deadlines to apply for their Opening School Experience.
Student teaching is the culmination of the clinical field experiences. Student teaching involves full participation by the students for at least one full academic term. Because student teaching constitutes a full load of academic credit, it is recommended that the students attempt neither regular employment nor other courses during the term of student teaching.
To be eligible for enrollment in student teaching, students must be admitted to teacher education and have:
- successfully completed the specific required courses of the program;
- earned an overall grade-point average no less than 2.50 (2.75 for birth through five and elementary education majors) the term prior to the student teaching experience;
- earned a minimum grade-point average of 2.50 (2.75 for birth through five and elementary education majors) in the major teaching area courses and in professional education courses. Students who earn a grade of “C-,” “D,” or “F” in a major teaching field or a professional education course must repeat that course and earn a grade of “C” or higher. The grade of “C,” “D,” or “F” will still be included in the overall grade-point average. Elementary Education and Middle Level Education majors must earn a grade of “B” or higher in major courses specified in the program of study. Birth Through Five and Special Education majors must earn a grade of C” or higher in major courses in the program of study. Health and Physical Education majors must earn a grade of “C+” or higher in specific major courses in the program of study.
- must complete the requirements to obtain a Pre-Service Certificate through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission which includes a criminal background check and the ethics module.
- will not be able to begin their field placement(s) until they receive their Pre-Service certificate number from the GaPSC and provide proof to the Office of Field Placements and Certification.
The Professional Education Faculty believes that all students who are in field experiences must be personally and psychologically equipped as well as academically prepared. Students may be denied entry to field experiences based on departmental prerequisites or the professional judgment of faculty based on observed performance and behavior. This policy is based on the premise that educators should be part of the evaluation of the students’ ability to function adequately and safely in classrooms and that educators have a right and responsibility to make such judgments prior to placing students in schools.
The practicum or student teaching supervisor has the authority to withdraw students from their classroom experience if their performance constitutes a detriment to the children in the class. If such removal is necessary, students will be given an F in each corresponding course.
Applications and deadlines for student teaching are posted at education.gsu.edu/office-of-field-placements/.
Failure to submit applications on or before prescribed deadline dates will result in a delay of one or more terms in student teaching or practicum placement. Further information regarding educational field experiences, practicum, and student teaching experiences for each major is available from the appropriate department in the College of the Arts, College of Arts and Science or the College of Education and Human Development.
An additional lab fee of $125 will be charged at the time students register for the student teaching experience. Educator preparation students must be aware that extra costs such as tort liability and transportation will be incurred at various times during the completion of the various teacher education field experiences, particularly during the students’ senior year.
Final Student Teaching Seminar
At the completion of the student teaching semester, all students who are eligible for certification must attend a final seminar to complete all requirements. Information concerning this seminar will be sent to the students.
Continuing Duty to Report Criminal Events
In addition to the continuing duty Georgia State University students have to report criminal events that occur after application to the University per the Georgia State Student Code of Conduct, students enrolled in educator preparation programs or in education coursework requiring field-based experiences must (1) report to the Office of Field Placements and Certification any criminal events described below that occur after the criminal background check required for field placements was conducted (notice to Office of Field Placements and Certification must be made within 72 hours of the student’s notice of the event); (2) consent to a new criminal background check; and (3) provide written consent for the release of the criminal background report and all information about the criminal event to any field placement site at which the student is currently student teaching or at which Georgia State attempts to place the student in the future. Failure to comply with the notice requirement described herein may result in sanctions up to and including immediate withdrawal from the University. Failure to comply with the criminal background check and release of information requirement described herein will result in immediate removal from all current field placements and courses and denial of future requests for field placement.
- Conviction of a crime other than a minor traffic violation.
- Criminal charges filed against the student.
- Entering a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, a plea of nolo contendere, an Alford plea, or a plea under any first offender act in response to charges filed against the student.
Criteria on Academic and Professional Integrity
The College of Education and Human Development is committed to upholding standards of academic and professional integrity. These standards require that students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within the College of Education and Human Development adhere to both the University’s Student Code of Conduct as described online at codeofconduct.gsu.edu/ as well as their individual degree program’s Policy on Student Professionalism, Integrity and Retention. Students should contact their department for a copy of their degree program’s policy.
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