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

The card may be obtained after May 15 for Fall quarter Student Teaching; November 1 for winter quarter Student Teaching; and February 1 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 (please see the deadlines link for additional information about when to provide this proof). 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.

While most students at CWU join Student Washington Education Association (SWEA), which provides the appropriate liability insurance coverage for student teachers, there are other options for purchasing liability insurance. 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) by SWEA/NEA, you will receive an email confirmation. Keep a copy of this email for your records, and send a copy via email to: casej@cwu.edu or bring a photocopy to the Office of Field Experience 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 working as a student teacher in the classroom. Again, visit the deadlines link for purchasing information.

Should you have any questions about liability insurance, please contact the 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

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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 posted in Black Hall, room 101, or may 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 University Field Supervisor is allowed to seek placements for Student Teaching. Students may not act on their own behalf, nor have anyone other than the approved University Field Supervisor act on their behalf, regarding placements. Information regarding placements will be available in Black 101 as it is received. Most schools finalize placements around finals week (see deadlines).

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 Outlook 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 Outlook 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