Fieldwork Policies
Fieldwork Placements
The Fieldwork Placement Coordinator arranges each of the student teaching placements. Thus, candidates are not permitted to arrange their own placements; the Fieldwork Placement Coordinator may ask candidates for further information, preferences, and/or help with confirming placement. The Fieldwork Placement Coordinator makes every effort to locate candidates’ field placements close to their residential addresses and to accommodate documented considerations. Living in an urban region, however, student teachers need to be prepared to commute up to 60 minutes to their fieldwork sites.
Online schools, independent study programs, and home schools are not prohibited as placements, however, the required experience may be difficult and, in some cases, impossible to achieve.
Attendance
Attendance is required for classes with planned online meeting days and times. Teacher Candidates are responsible for punctuality, regular attendance, and engagement in fieldwork placements and all CSUEB classes; promptness and excellent attendance are the candidate’s professional responsibility. Candidates may not miss classes to attend public school classes, activities, or substitute teaching. Candidates must notify school site personnel, their University Supervisor, and the Program Coordinator, even if for only one class period, in advance of the absence and/or as soon as possible. Failure to do so may result in program removal.
Academic Attire
When on school sites and at the district office, Teacher Candidates should dress appropriately to the culture of the school site.
Child Abuse Reporting
Teacher candidates are mandated reporters of child abuse. All persons who are mandated reporters are required, by law, to report all known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. It is not the job of the mandated reporter to determine whether the allegations are valid. If child abuse or neglect is reasonably suspected or if a pupil shares information with a mandated reporter leading him/her to believe abuse or neglect has taken place, the report must be made. No supervisor or administrator can impede or inhibit a report or subject the reporting person to any sanction. Teacher candidates are obligated to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect pursuant to California Penal Code Section 11166.5. Visit the California Department of Education (CDE) website to .
Code of Ethics
Candidates are expected to be knowledgeable about and demonstrate the professional standards for their field of teaching, as well as University standards outlined in the CSUEB University Catalog and Credential Program Handbook. Candidates are expected to adhere to the National Education Association’s .
Candidate Dispositions
CSUEB candidates demonstrate the dispositions of a professional educator throughout the credential program. These dispositions include personal qualities that are important to the teaching profession, qualities important for collaboration, commitment to professional growth, diversity and social justice, and ethical practices. Candidates can find . Candidates will agree to the expectation of displaying and maintaining professional dispositions during the Credential Program Orientation held in May.
Communication
Candidates are required to use their CSUEB email (Horizon account) for all program and district-related communications. We strongly encourage candidates to check their email systematically throughout the week.
Lesson Plans
Candidates should not be teaching without a formal, written lesson plan. Lesson plans may be created by either the Cooperating Teacher or the candidate; lesson plans may also be co-created by both. The and each element of the template should be completed prior to each lesson being taught.
For observations with the University Supervisor, lesson plans must be sent to the University Supervisor no later than 24 hours prior to the lesson being taught. Explore the sample lesson observation cycle found on page 2 of the .
Substitute Teaching Policy
Candidates can be hired to substitute teach for their Cooperating Teacher as long as they have met the district substitute teacher hiring requirements; candidates are strongly encouraged to do so. Candidates may be hired to be substitute teach for other teachers under the following conditions:
- The substitute teaching assignment cannot conflict with the arranged fieldwork placement schedule.
- Candidates must be paid for their work as substitute teachers. If candidates are not paid they should contact the Credential Program Coordinator immediately.
- Substitute teaching assignments beyond five consecutive days must be approved by the Credential Program Coordinator.
Unsatisfactory Field Experience and Candidate Improvement Procedures
Should the University Supervisor, the Cooperating Teacher, or the Mentor Teacher determine that the candidate's performance may not warrant credit, early in the process the University Supervisor will:
- Discuss the situation with the candidate and inform the candidate of the possibility that they may not earn credit for the placement and the fieldwork course.
- Write a that specifies the TPE in which the candidate is not making satisfactory progress and/or dispositions not aligned with those of a professional educator. The University Supervisor will email a copy of the Candidate Improvement Plan to the candidate and copies the Teacher Education Department Chair, Credentials office, and the Credential Program Coordinator.
- Conduct a 3-party conference with the candidate, the Cooperating Teacher or Mentor Teacher, and the University Supervisor. If the candidate is under contract, the three-party conference may include the site administrator/designee and, as appropriate, the Credential Program Coordinator.
- During the conference, the University Supervisor will:
- Review the Candidate Improvement Plan.Describe, as specifically as possible, the changes that the candidate must make to earn credit.
- Provide a timeline for specific improvement(s).
- Clarify what the University Supervisor, the Cooperating or Mentor Teacher, and site administrator (as applicable) will do to help the candidate succeed.
- Answer any questions posed by the candidate.
- After the conference, the University Supervisor will:
- Email a copy of the Teacher Candidate Improvement Plan to the candidate and to the Teacher Education Department Chair, Credentials office, and the Credential Program Coordinator.
- The University Supervisor and Cooperating Teacher or site partner should continue to observe the candidate regularly and document the candidate's performance. The site administrator may also be asked to provide additional observation/documentation.
If a candidate refuses the conditions outlined within the Teacher Candidate Improvement Plan, they may be subject to declassification from the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential Program. A candidate may appeal a Teacher Candidate Improvement Plan by submitting a written appeal to the Teacher Education Department Chair within 5 working days of receiving such a plan. The appeal will only be accepted in the form of a PDF attached to an email.
If the candidate does not meet the requirements written in the Teacher Candidate Improvement Plan, the Program Coordinator will consult with the University Supervisor and Teacher Education Department Chair and then select from the following options:
- Counsel the candidate to repeat the field experience;
- Counsel the candidate to investigate other career choices and formally withdraw from the credential program;
- Seek to declassify the candidate from the program/university. See the CSUEB academic policies and procedures for Academic Alert and Disqualification here.