A student teacher identification card must be obtained either from the Connection Card office in Bouillon Hall, room 104 (for main campus students) or at CWU centers (for cohort students).

The card may be obtained after January 15 for Fall quarter Student Teaching; April 15 for winter quarter Student Teaching; and October 15 for Spring quarter Student Teaching.

The card is provided free of charge and will be required by both University Field Supervisors and the school districts in which you will be placed.

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In order to seek and solidify a Student Teaching placement, students must provide proof of purchase of $1m of liability insurance.

CWU offers the required insurance to students for $9.13. Please complete the online Professional Liability Insurance Enrollment form. The liability insurance is valid September 1 - August 31 of each year. The CWU Teacher Certification Office receives notification when a teacher candidate has purchased the required insurance.

Many professional organizations provide this coverage for its student members. It is the students' responsibility to inquire if such coverage for student teaching is offered by the organization(s) through which they become members. If you choose SWEA the simplest way to apply is visiting the website link below. Once your application has been accepted and processed (membership granted), you will receive an email confirmation. Keep a copy of this email for your records, and send a copy via email to: TeacherCertification@cwu.edu or bring a photocopy to the Certification Office (Black Hall, room 228) as your proof of purchase.

Alternatively you may check with the professional organization associated with your content area for additional possible sources of insurance, or visit the website for Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) listed below. Northwest Professional Educators provides $2 million in liability insurance for student teaching. This policy continues for one year and remains in place if hired during the membership year. It covers contracted and substitute educators in all educational settings.

Liability insurance must be valid for the dates you will be working as a student teacher in the classroom.

Should you have any questions about liability insurance, please contact the CWU Teacher Certification Office.

SWEA Application:
https://www.nea.org/HowToJoin/stateStudent.do?sea=wa&mbrType=STUDENT

NWPE Application:
http://www.nwpe.org/index.php/secure-nwpe-membership-application

CWU Liability Insurance:
Professional Liability Insurance Enrollment form

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Orientation

The Student Teaching orientation will be scheduled by your University Field Supervisor. Attendance is mandatory. If you can not attend, prior arrangements must be made with your University Field Supervisor or you will be dropped from Student Teaching.

Orientation information will be provided by your University Field Supervisor via email or telephone.

A Student Teaching packet will be provided at orientation. The packet will include the Student Teaching Handbook and other orientation materials needed to get you started in the experience.

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Only the Coordinator of Field Experiences is allowed to seek placements for Student Teaching. Students may not act on their own behalf, nor have anyone other than the approved Coordinator of Field Experiences act on their behalf, regarding placements. Information regarding placements will be sent to student teachers when ready.

Geographic Assignments

• Not all areas of geographic preference are available as options for placement in every quarter.
• In areas where placement options are limited, students will be chosen based on a random lottery system. Typically, this refers only to Kittitas County placements (where there are usually no more than 8-12 placements available in any given quarter), but may also apply to other areas as well, based on district need and availability of Cooperating Teachers. (Extenuating personal or professional circumstances for areas with limited placement will not be considered.)
• No placements will be sought in areas where full-time University Field Supervisors are not available to seek placements (typically, placements are sought in areas near the 6 University Centers).

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Registration

Students must attend a mandatory Pre-Autumn Information Meeting during the spring quarter prior to Pre-Autumn. This meeting will focus on general information about placement, procedures, expectations and refunds. Course/section numbers for pre-registration will be disseminated at this meeting. An email will be sent to applicant's CWU email account during spring quarter identifying dates and times of this mandatory meeting. Student ID must be shown in order to receive course/section numbers.

An email will be sent to applicant's CWU email account during Spring quarter with your course number to register. You must register by the end of Spring quarter. You will not be allowed in the classroom unless you are registered. Deadlines for withdrawal are different than deadlines for fall quarter (withdrawal information).

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Student Teaching Interview