7.0 Procedures Affecting Student Teachers
North Carolina State University's student teachers, along with the cooperating teachers in the cooperating schools must adhere to the laws of North Carolina. Additional local school board regulations which may exist have the power of law as long as they do not conflict with state laws.
It is important to remember that the full and final legal responsibility for the guidance of the students in the school remains with the cooperating teacher during the entire time that the student teacher is working in the school. The student teacher is assigned certain responsibilities and duties temporarily, but at all times the cooperating teacher should be informed thoroughly of the progress of the class.
7.1 Legal Implications of Student Teaching
North Carolina Policies
The Public School Laws of North Carolina, enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly and subject to related laws and court interpretation, provide for the following:
G. S. 115c-307
Duties of teachers generally; principals and teachers may use reasonable force in exercising lawful authority.
It shall be the duty of all teachers, including student teachers, substitute teachers, voluntary teachers, teachers' aides, and assistants when given authority over some part of the school program by the principal or supervising teacher, to maintain good order and discipline in their respective schools; to promote the health of all pupils, especially of children in the first three grades, by providing frequent periods of recreation, to supervise the play activities during recess, and to encourage wholesome exercises for all children; to teach as thoroughly as they are able all branches which they are required to teach; to provide for singing in the school, and so far as possible to give instruction in public school music; and to enter actively into the plans of the superintendent for the professional growth of the teachers. Teachers shall cooperate with the principal in ascertaining the cause of nonattendance of pupils that he may report all violators of the compulsory attendance law to the attendance officer in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of Education.
Principals, teachers, substitute teachers, voluntary teachers, teachers' aides and assistants, and student teachers in the public schools of this State may use reasonable force in the exercise of lawful authority to restrain or correct pupils and maintain order. No county or city board of education or district committee shall promulgate or continue in effect a rule, regulation, or bylaw which prohibits the use of such force as is specified in this section.
G. S. 115c-309(a)
Student teacher and student teaching defined.
A student teacher is any student enrolled in an institution of higher education approved by the State Board of Education for the preparation of teachers who is jointly assigned by that institution and a county or city board of education to student teach under the direction and supervision of a regularly employed and certified* teacher. Student teaching may include those duties granted to a teacher by G. S. 115-146 and any other part of the school program for which either the supervising teacher or the principal is responsible.
* The NC Department of Public Instruction uses the terms "license, licensed, and licensure" instead of "certificate, certified, and certification."
G. S. 115-c-309(b)
Legal protection.
A student teacher under the supervision of a certified teacher or principal shall have the protection of the laws accorded the certified teacher.
G. S. 115-c-309(c)
Assignment of duties.
It shall be the responsibility of the supervising teacher, in cooperation with the principal and the representative of the teacher preparation institution, to assign to the student teacher responsibilities and duties that will provide adequate preparation for teaching.
7.2 NCSU Policy on Student Teachers Serving as Substitute Teachers
The College of Education discourages the use of student teachers as substitute teachers. The intent of the student teaching experience is to provide supervised time and opportunity for the candidate to learn and grow as a professional educator under the close supervision of cooperating teachers.
The College of Education has adopted a procedure regarding the use of student teachers as substitute teachers. The procedure states:
Student teachers may accept substitute teaching responsibilities only under rare circumstances (such as sudden death or emergency illness of the cooperating teacher) only in the subject area for which they are preparing to be licensed, and only with the agreement of the university supervisor.
Student teachers who serve as substitute teachers are eligible for substitute teacher pay and may substitute only in the school in which they are assigned. A student teacher may not serve as a substitute teacher on two consecutive days, or for more than five days in the semester of his/her student teaching. Exceptions may be granted only by the Dean of the College of Education or his/her designee.
Immediately upon being asked to serve as a substitute teacher (with or without pay), the student teacher should notify his/her university supervisor. At the end of each semester, each program having student teachers that semester will report to the Director of Professional Education the instances of substitute teaching which occurred.
This procedure is based on the assumption that the cooperating teacher and the university supervisor agree that the student teacher is qualified to handle the instructional and classroom management duties necessary to provide an optimum learning experience for the students.
7.3 Student Teachers and Substitute Teachers in the Absence of the Cooperating Teacher
Pursuant to General Statute 115-c-309(b) (see section 7.1) “A student teacher under the supervision of a certified teacher or principal shall have the protection of the laws accorded the certified teacher.” Student teachers are not, however, legally responsible if they are left unsupervised in the absence of the cooperating teacher. Substitutes should be provided even if the student teacher is responsible for the lesson plans, unless the student teacher is serving as the substitute per the guidelines stated in section 7.2. A student teacher should contact the administration immediately if a substitute teacher fails to arrive and should notify teachers on the hall that he or she is alone with students. Leaving a student teacher alone without a substitute teacher puts the school, administration, and LEA in legal jeopardy should a liability issue arise.
7.4 Handling Serious Problems
North Carolina State University sends its student teachers into cooperating schools with confidence that they possess the qualities and preparation necessary to become good classroom teachers. They represent a well-educated, eager group of individuals, many of whom are highly motivated to teach. The university has developed the following criteria to assist in screening prospective student teachers:
- Well-planned and thorough professional preparation, accompanied by experiences in public schools;
- Academic standards;
- Endorsement by faculty in the potential student teacher's department; and
- Approval of an application to student teach by the College of Education Professional Education Committee.
The above efforts usually screen out those who cannot perform satisfactorily in a public school situation. No public school student should be deprived or suffer in any way because of a student teacher. In addition, no school or school system should suffer any embarrassment through the actions of a student teacher. If, however, an unfortunate situation should develop, the cooperating teacher is urged to follow these procedures:
In a conference setting, the cooperating teacher should inform the student teacher of his or her concerns. The cooperating teacher should keep a specific, detailed written record of the conference. Another teacher, the department head, the principal, or a supervisor may want to verify the concerns.
The cooperating teacher should outline in writing for the student teacher his or her suggestions and expectations for specific actions to remedy the problem, including a deadline for acceptable improvement.
The cooperating teacher should notify the university supervisor of the problem and the actions he or she has taken. While the cooperating teacher and the student teacher are expected to resolve minor differences, immediate notification is expected in the event of a potential major problem. The university supervisor will provide a telephone number to call if the need arises and will encourage the cooperating teacher to communicate freely. Most situations should be resolved by these three steps.
If reasonable efforts to resolve a problem have failed, the university supervisor is authorized to initiate action to withdraw a student teacher. Refer to the criteria and procedure in Section 3.2. Before a student teacher is withdrawn, the university supervisor should discuss the situation with his or her program coordinator and with the Director of Professional Education. The problems will be reviewed and the likelihood for the student teacher to be given another student teaching placement will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Our objective is to resolve such problems quickly, without assigning blame to either party.
http://ced.ncsu.edu/teachered/studteachhandbook/procedures.htm
last updated
8/11/09
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Contact: Michael J. Maher
[michael_maher@ncsu.edu]
Director of Professional Education
204 Poe Hall
NC State University | College of Education | Teacher Education