Field Placement Changes During the Semester

In rare instances during Senior Student Teaching or Internship II it may become necessary for a teacher candidate to be transferred to another assignment or it may become necessary to discontinue the candidate’s clinical field experience. The procedures for reassignment of a teacher candidate to another setting or discontinuing the candidate from the placement are noted below. In both cases steps will be taken to resolve issues which are contributing to the need for change in assignment.

Reassigning Field Experience/Clinical Practice Placement to Another Setting

If a principal or cooperating teacher requests that a student be reassigned, the supervisor should contact the Department Chair and the Director of the STEP Office to explain the problem and plan to move the student as soon as possible. All initial efforts shall be directed toward resolving the problem at the school. If the supervisor recommends the placement be changed, and if upon review by the Chair or proper coordinator the move is deemed necessary, then the recommendation should be forwarded to the STEP Office. This action will be contingent upon the availability of another board of education approved field placement.

Discontinuance of Clinical Practice Assignment

There are occasions, during the clinical practice quarter/semester, when consideration must be given to the removal of the teacher candidate from a field placement setting. In the event that this should happen, the following procedures will be followed:

As soon as the college supervisor becomes aware of a problem that may necessitate moving the student, an on-site conference with the student and cooperating teacher will be initiated.
The building administrator and/or college department chair may be included. The problem will be defined, and a written remedial plan with a timeline will be developed in consultation with the student, cooperating teacher and supervisor. The college supervisor will keep anecdotal records of progress or lack thereof.
If the problem cannot be remediated within 10 working days, a meeting will be held at The College with the supervisor, teacher candidate, department chair, and STEP Office Director or designee. The supervisor will bring the following documents to the meeting:

a) the previous remediation plan with an explanation of why it was not successful
b) all supervisor's observations, evaluations and records
c) all cooperating teacher and district input

After reviewing all pertinent data and following a discussion of this data as well as other pertinent information with attendees, this group, in item 3 above, will make a recommendation for:

a)   allowing the student to remain in the current placement
b)   removal and placement of the student for the current semester/quarter with suggestions for successful placement, or
c)   discontinuance of the placement for the balance of the semester. Replacement can occur when requirements for successful placement have been met. The department will assume responsibility for monitoring student progress toward completion of the requirements for successful replacement

The department chair, in consultation with the supervisor, will complete the Clinical Practice Discontinuance/Reassignment Form; make copies for the student, supervisor and department, and forward the original to the STEP Office. If reassignment of the student is to occur, the department will arrange for a consultation with the STEP Office director. The STEP Office will plan collaboratively with the department and the student to initiate a successful reassignment.