Office of Clinical Experiences & Candidate Services

Teacher Candidate Guide

Fall 2026 – Spring 2027

Updated: April 2026

THE STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Dear WCU Student Teacher Candidate: 

Student teaching is the capstone experience of your teacher preparation program. We are excited for you to begin this final phase of your education experience at West Chester University. During this experience, you will continue to gain additional practical knowledge as well as an understanding of how educational theory connects to instruction in the classroom. You will plan and teach a variety of lessons and encounter the everyday and sometimes not so everyday issues related to education. It is a time to try your ideas and to listen and learn from your mentor teacher and the PreK-12 students. You will have an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. Savor this time, enjoy each day’s challenges and rewards, and reflect on all that occurs.

Remember, you are an ambassador from West Chester University. Your conduct and performance will not only demonstrate your skills, but also attest to the quality of the University you represent.

Best regards,
Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services
West Chester University

Student Teaching Signature

Student Teacher Candidate Roles and Responsibilities

Student Teacher Candidate:

The successful outcome of the student teaching experience is dependent upon open communication and collaboration between the student teacher candidate, mentor teacher and the university supervisor.

The basic roles and responsibilities of the student teacher candidate are as follows:

• Observe classroom teaching strategies, techniques, procedures, student behavior, and classroom management techniques of the mentor teacher and other faculty members within the school.
• Present an appropriate lesson plan for each assigned teaching situation two days prior to the actual instructional period.
• Evaluate PreK-12 student responses to the above activities.
• Evaluate himself/herself on the four domains of Danielson, including each sub-domain.
• Comply with the Acceptable Use of Technology Policy established by the school district. 

Student teacher candidate requirements are as followed:

• Review with the mentor teacher any and all applicable policies, codes or confidentiality issues related to the experience (See Appendix B)
• Assume full responsibility for the class/schedule for a period of time to which the mentor teacher and university supervisor agree; the decision concerning how and when to increase a teacher candidate’s classroom responsibilities should be a joint decision involving all three key participants- the mentor teacher, the student teacher candidate, and the university supervisor.
  • Begin with observation, assisting PreK-12 students as they work, and other duties as deemed appropriate by mentor teacher and/or university supervisor
  • Assist in reviewing PreK-12 student work and proctoring assessments
  • Assist the mentor teacher or department/grade level members with small tasks such as tutoring or teaching small groups
  • Progress to responsibility for instructing one or more subjects/classes
  • Proceed to full responsibility for instructing the class/schedule

Progress in assigning new tasks will depend upon the readiness of the student teacher candidate and the needs of the PreK-12 students. The mentor teacher should give consideration to the student teacher candidate’s satisfactory completion of tasks at each stage.

GENERAL RULES AND POLICIES FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES

The first obligation of the student teacher candidate is to fulfill as effectively as possible every role of the teacher. The student teacher candidate is urged to participate as fully as possible in the activities of the host school. Student teaching is the culminating activity of the Teacher Education Program and is a full-time responsibility. The student teacher candidate’s actions have an impact, not only upon the student teacher candidate, but also upon the PreK-12 students, the mentor teacher, the hosting school, and West Chester University. Therefore, the student teaching experience must take precedence over all other commitments. 

ATTENDANCE WITHIN PLACEMENT

The student teaching experience is a full-time responsibility. The student teacher candidate is responsible for attending school for the full teaching day. The student teacher candidate reports to the assigned school at the same time the mentor teacher is required to report and is to remain until the end of the scheduled day (following the same schedule as the mentor teacher). Student teacher candidates are expected to observe the same rules and punctuality which apply to the mentor teacher. Student teacher candidates follow the calendar of their assigned school/district.

Because of the value of this professional experience, student teacher candidates are expected to participate in all aspects of teaching including, but not limited to attending parent-teacher conferences, workshops, faculty meetings, and other professional activities if permitted by the building administration.

SEMINAR ATTENDANCE 

In addition, each student teacher candidate is required to attend a weekly professional seminar which is conducted concurrently with student teaching. The seminar is conducted by the university supervisor and is designed to consider practical problems encountered while teaching and to develop a functional understanding of Pennsylvania School Law. Attendance and participation in the seminar are factored into the teacher candidate's final grade for student teaching.

ABSENCES

Student teacher candidates are permitted five days of absence for the entire semester. These absences may be used for illness, emergencies, conferences, or interviews. Absences for conferences and interviews should be cleared with the mentor teacher and the university supervisor at least two days in advance. In the case of an absence, student teacher candidates must notify their mentor teacher and the university supervisor of the impending absence as soon as it becomes apparent that an absence will be necessary. The university supervisor and mentor teacher will keep a record of the date and the reason
for each absence. 

All absences from student teaching in excess of five days must be made up by the student teacher candidate.
Arrangements for such make-up days start with the university supervisor and the mentor teacher, which are then approved in collaboration with WCU personnel (OCECS Director) and school administration. Student teaching grades and credits will be withheld until the make-up arrangement is fulfilled.

STUDENT TEACHING GRADE

The final grade for student teaching is determined by completion of all assignments and after consultation between Student Teacher Candidate, Mentor Teacher and University Supervisor regarding classroom performance on the Danielson/PDE430 Rubric.

The Danielson/PDE430 evaluation and the dispositions are completed in the Professional Education Unit’s online  assessment system called Anthology Portfolio. For more information about and to view the evaluation forms, please access the Professional Education Unit’s tab on the Assessment and Accreditation webpage.

GUIDELINES FOR GRADES

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The extra-curricular program at each school site offers an excellent opportunity for a student teacher candidate to gain needed professional experience in planning and directing an extracurricular program. Student teacher candidates are encouraged to assist with coaching, clubs, and other extracurricular programs as long as the activities do not interfere with student teacher candidate's teaching responsibilities. Reminder, every student teacher candidate is a representative of West Chester University and must present themselves and interact with others in a professional manner when working with PreK-12 students and other school-based personnel outside of the classroom.

TRANSPORTATION

Student teacher candidates are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from their assigned school. Student teacher candidates must not transport school students in any vehicle during field trips and other activities. The student teacher candidate will follow the expectations of the school/district for their own transportation when field trips are planned during their placement.  

STATE LAWS CONCERNING LIABILITY

Teachers and student teacher candidates have been held legally liable by the Pennsylvania courts for the behavior (and safety) of PreK-12 students under their direction. If a PreK-12 student is injured because of the negligence of either a teacher or student teacher candidate, both the teacher and student teacher candidate can be held legally responsible.  For this reason, it is highly advisable for the student teacher candidate to be protected by liability insurance.  Such insurance is highly recommended and typically available through membership in the  Student Pennsylvania Education Association (PSEA)/National Education Association (NEA) or through an insurance company.

INJURIES INCURRED WHILE STUDENT TEACHING

Student teacher candidates are encouraged to maintain a health insurance program in case of an injury suffered while participating in the student teaching experience. Student insurance plans are available through the Student Health Services. Information regarding the insurance program may be obtained from the Student Health Services, Ground Floor, Commonwealth Hall, telephone: (610) 436-2509. If a teacher candidate incurs an injury while performing the duties of a teacher candidate, West Chester University will not accept responsibility for the medical care required to treat the injury. The school district to which the student teacher candidate is assigned may or may not accept responsibility.

WCU SUBSTITUTE TEACHING WHILE STUDENT TEACHING POLICY

WCU’s College of Education and Social Work policy, relative to student teachers, regarding Act 86 of 2016/Act 91 of 2021 permitting prospective teachers to act as substitute teachers are outlined in the following document. The policy applies to West Chester University student teachers during their assigned student teaching placement.

The Substitute Teaching Permit for Prospective Educators

NOTE: All decisions relating to student teacher candidate readiness and responsibilities will be determined by the mentor teacher, university supervisor and student teacher candidate.

CHANGE IN PLACEMENTS

The Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services (OCECS) commits to finding a single student teaching placement for each student teacher candidate per course. If a student teacher candidate has a concern about their placement after the student teaching semester has begun, they should discuss their concerns with their university supervisor. A change in placement/s will not occur before the beginning of the semester or because of differences in personality or teaching philosophies between the student teacher candidate and the mentor teacher. If the student teacher candidate communicates a significant placement concern, unrelated to personality differences or teaching philosophies, to the university supervisor, the university supervisor will discuss the circumstances with the field placement coordinator. The department chair/program coordinator will collaborate with the Executive Director of the OCECS to determine if the request would be granted. It is important to note that if a change in placement is granted, it is not guaranteed that another placement will be found that semester. A change in placement could delay graduation or completion of certification requirements. However, if a change in placement is denied, the student teacher candidate may appeal the decision to the EPP Review Committee. The EPP Review Board will be led by the CESW Associate Dean and be comprised of the university supervisor or department chairperson, one member from the Council for Professional Education Field Experience Committee, and one member of the Disposition Committee from a department in which the candidate’s program does not reside. During this meeting the student will have an opportunity to present any additional evidence to support the appeal. The decision of the EPP Review Board is final.

WCU RESTORATIVE ACTION PLAN AND AREAS OF CONCERN

West Chester University’s Educator Preparation Programs value professional dispositions and requirements. These are essential for candidates and critical for professional educators. Candidates have opportunities to demonstrate professional dispositions and requirements in courses, their interactions with others, and school settings. If a concern occurs, the process for handling basic concerns (Level 1 and Level 2 concerns) is restorative and reflects the PA Code of Ethics for Educators.

Areas of significant concern (Level 3 concerns) can arise at any time during a teacher candidate’s preparation program: courses, clinical experiences, or student teaching. There are three ways a concern can be labeled a significant concern. First, a Faculty member, Department Chair, or Associate Dean can submit a significant concern form if there is a violation of the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators (Code Chapter 235) and/or the Professional Educator Discipline Act (Code Chapter 237). A second way concerns become a Significant Concern (Level 3) is when a school (mentor teacher, school administrator, or school human resources representative) dismisses a Candidate from their placement. The Candidate must leave the school and immediately report to their University Supervisor that they have been asked not to return. WCU’s EPPs also have the right to remove a Candidate from their assigned placement if there is a violation of Chapter 235 or Chapter 237. If an area of concern (by either the school district or university personnel) results in removal of the Candidate from the placement, the Candidate shall not return to their placement nor shall the Candidate be assigned to another placement, until the EPP Review Board’s investigative process is completed. A third way a concern can become significant is when a Candidate has multiple Level 1 or 2 concerns or if restorative practices in Level 2 have been unsuccessful.

Significant concerns require a hearing with the EPP Review Board and can lead to denial of recommendation for certification and/or dismissal from the program.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

The district always has the right to ask the student teacher candidate to be removed from the assignment if they believe that the student teacher candidate has violated any policy or procedure at either the district level or the building level as indicated on page 2 item 5 of the Standard Affiliation Agreement:

Professional Standards: Both parties to this agreement have a right and an obligation to insist on standards of professional decorum on the part of the student teacher candidates that are consistent with applicable law and regulations, and the prevailing standards in the school community and the educational profession.

WITHDRAW/REMOVAL FROM STUDENT TEACHING

Removal from field experience or student teaching is a very serious matter. The district (mentor teacher, school, administrator, or district Human Resources representative) always has the right to ask the student teacher candidate to be removed from the assignment, for any reason. If the student teacher candidate is asked not to return to the school site and is dismissed from their placement, the student teacher candidate must leave the school’s facilities immediately and report this occurrence to their University Supervisor immediately.  

This requires a Level 3 Area of Significant Concern to be submitted by the University Supervisor, Department Chair, or Associate Dean which requires an EPP Review Board hearing to be scheduled (please see the WCU Restorative Action Plan and Areas of Concern above).

WCU’s Educator Preparation Programs (EPP) also have the right to remove a student teacher candidate from their assigned teaching placement. When evidence is presented that indicates a student teacher candidate’s behavior is unacceptable due to violation of the PDE Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators or the Professional Educator Discipline Act removal from student teaching will result. In these cases, the University Supervisor in consultation with the Department Chair/Program/Field Coordinator will inform the Student Teacher that they are not to return to the school site and submit a Level 3 Area of Significant Concern which requires an EPP Review Board Hearing to be scheduled (See Restorative Action Plan and Areas of Concern Guidelines).

Pertinent information may be found here:

Restorative Action Plan and Areas of Concern Guidelines

PA Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators

EDUCATOR DISCIPLINE SYSTEM AND MANDATORY REPORTING

WCU Academic Integrity

WCU Student Code of Conduct

REQUIREMENTS FOR A PENNSYLVANIA PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE

In order to teach in a Pennsylvania public school, candidates must apply for a Pennsylvania Teacher Certificate through the PA Department of Education (PDE)’s online Teacher Information Management System (TIMS). Please follow all directions provided by the Office of Certification.

It is strongly recommended that program completers apply, although they may not be planning to seek a position immediately or they may be planning to work in another state. In current practice, if a person applies for PA certification sometime in the future, that person must meet the requirements in effect at that time. New requirements could mean additional coursework, testing, and/or higher test scores to qualify for a certificate.

RECOMMENDATION FOR CERTIFICATION

 Student Teacher Candidates are evaluated using the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)-430 evaluation form and West Chester University’s Danielson evaluation. The Danielson/PDE 430 evaluation is completed by the Student Teacher Candidate, University Supervisor, and Mentor Teacher twice during the semester.
 
For more information about and to view the evaluation forms, please access the Professional Education Unit’s assessment website

QUALIFICATIONS FOR A PA CERTIFICATE

Complete an approved education preparation program at the Bachelors, Graduate or Post Baccalaureate level in your subject area. Your initial teacher preparation program must include a student teaching experience.

1. Complete an approved education preparation program at the Bachelors, Graduate or Post Baccalaureate level in your subject area. Your initial teacher preparation program must include a student teaching experience.
2. Meet all Certification Testing requirements established by the PA State Board of Education.
3. Meet all other requirements established by the PA Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators.
4. Submit an online application for certification via PDE’s TIMS – MyPDESuite – with the state mandated minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher (or equivalent)
5. Receive the recommendation of your preparing college/university

The PA Department of Education considers the PDE430, the PA statewide evaluation form for student professional knowledge and practice, which is part of the WCU Professional Education Unit-wide assessment, necessary for certification. WCU translates this content into the Assessment Management Software through the Danielson/PDE430 evaluation, the Unit-wide assessment, and Candidate Signature Page. WCU university supervisors must complete the Danielson/PDE430 evaluation so that candidates can review and complete the Candidate Signature Page assignment. Final ratings must be satisfactory, which means a minimum of 2 (Emergent) in each category. Completion and minimum scoring requirements for both the Danielson/PDE430 evaluation and Candidate Signature Page are required to earn an institutional recommendation for certification.

*Note: assessments are subject to change within the time span of one’s University career due to changing requirements at national, state, and local level; and candidates may still be required to meet requirements.

Questions about any part of this process should be directed to:

Office of Certification
302 Recitation Hall, 610-436-2321.

Print Checklist for Teacher Candidates

QUICK REFERENCE

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF: