The Student-Teaching Experience
Students seeking licensure complete their program with a student-teaching experience.
Student teachers are supervised by a university supervisor in the School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Education and by an on-site cooperating teacher. Students should consult the Marymount University Graduate Teacher Candidate Handbook and the Student Teaching Handbook for further information on student teaching.
Placement for student teaching is dependent upon the school’s and faculty’s judgment regarding the student’s performance in coursework, dispositions, and field placement.
Deadlines are set annually for student teaching applications. Contact the Office of Clinical Experiences for exact deadlines. Passing scores must be attained for the Praxis II, Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), and Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) licensure exams before submitting an application. Please see an advisor for exact dates for specific exams needed for licensure areas. Information and directions for application completion are available in the Office of Clinical Experiences.
Placement is available in public schools in the greater Washington metropolitan area, the Diocese of Arlington, the Archdiocese of Washington, and in accredited private schools. Placement is made in conjunction with the local school districts, and no particular placement can be guaranteed. Transportation to and from the cooperating school is the responsibility of the student. If a student needs a student-teaching assignment outside of the local area, the student must meet the written requirements available from the coordinator of clinical experiences and must have approval from the chair of the education department. While student teaching, all students assume the role of guest in the host school and must abide by the host school's policies and regulations.
Student Teaching Abroad
Students who would like to student teach abroad must contact the coordinator of clinical experiences two semesters before applying to student teach. Placements are currently available in Europe, South America, and New Zealand. Tuition for student teaching abroad remains the same; however, student teachers are responsible for their own transportation, housing expenses, and any additional program fees.
Student Teaching Out-of-Area
Students who want to student teach out of the local area within the United States must contact the coordinator of clinical experiences two semesters before applying to student teach. Out-of-area placements are granted on a case-by-case basis based on the student’s need to relocate due to personal and/or financial reasons. If the out-of-area student-teaching assignment is granted, the student teacher is responsible for any additional costs exceeding that which Marymount provides to the cooperating teachers and supervisors. Students register for student teaching through Marymount regardless of the geographic location of the placement.
Applying for Student Teaching
In order to register for student teaching, a student must fulfill the following requirements:
- gain full admission into a licensure program
- submit a student-teaching application packet (see deadlines previously noted)
- complete all stipulated methods coursework
- submit passing scores for the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and the Praxis Core Math (if applicable)
- submit passing scores on the Praxis II exam
- submit passing scores on the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) exam (for elementary education and special education programs)
- be endorsed by an education department faculty member to student teach based upon ability and dispositions
Prior to beginning the student-teaching placement, student teachers must clear a criminal background check as required by the local school division and must submit verification of current health insurance.