Practicum Experiences

Although no minimum number of hours are required in the schools prior to student teaching, programs are encouraged to maximize the contact hours and teaching opportunities that candidates have prior to student teaching. If a practicum will be the final practicum for a candidate in a content area (such as if the student is working on a minor in the area), that practicum must have teaching experiences for the candidate with a Summative Danielson observation. This is required by the state in order for that candidate to show “proof of performance” in the content area and grade range of the endorsement.

January 20, 2021

In the event that programs need additional schools for practicum placements, the faculty member over the particular practicum would contact Student Teaching Services. STS considers where practicum students and student teaching students are already placed for other content areas to ensure that schools will not be overloaded by additional requests. STS then reaches out to the school administrator to request permission for BYUI faculty to work with a particular content area within a school. Once the principal has given STS a green light to proceed, then the faculty may work directly with mentors to coordinate the details of the placements.

If a faculty member is desiring to place practicum students in a non-partner district, then STS would need to have an initial conversation at the district level to put things into motion. After permission is obtained at that level, then the same procedure listed above would ensue.

*Note: The Teacher Education Department has the following internal processes apart from the EPP-level processes listed above.

Teacher Education faculty members take their request to the program lead. The lead shares the request at the weekly leadership meeting. This allows them to look at the request to see if the practicum request will impact another practicum in their department or if another program has a concern. The chair has the responsibility for working directly with STS. The chair may assign this step to the program lead. Teacher Education follows the direction given by STS before reaching out or making any contact with a district or school.

Approved by ECC on 3/24/2021