Rights and Responsibilities
The following are rights and responsibilities of teacher education candidates at Illinois State University relative to admission to a teacher education entitlement program, retention in such a teacher education program, and recommendation for certification.
Admission to a Teacher Education Program
The teacher candidate has the right to:
- Apply for admission to a teacher education program provided he/she has met Gateway I requirements.
- Appeal decisions relative to his/her admission to a teacher education program with the Guidelines for Submitting Student Appeals Procedure.
The teacher education candidate is responsible for:
- Attaining and maintaining appropriate standards for admission.
- Following his/her catalog's admission procedures.
Clinical Experiences and Student Teaching
The teacher candidate has the right to:
- Pre-student teaching clinical experiences placements and a student teaching assignment, provided all requirements are fulfilled as stated in the University Undergraduate Catalog under "Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education."
- Appeal decisions relative to his/her admission to clinical experiences/student teaching with the Guidelines for Submitting Student Appeals Procedure.
The teacher candidate has the responsibility to:
- Attain and maintain all of the stated requirements for student teaching.
- Be thoroughly familiar with the Illinois State University undergraduate catalog and the handbooks distributed for student teaching.
Student Teaching rules:
- Candidates cannot be placed for student teaching in a school (or in some cases a district) which they attended.
- Candidates are responsible for their transportation and housing needs during student teaching.
- Candidates should not take additional coursework or be involved in an intercollegiate sport while participating in student teaching.
- Many schools require an interview prior to receiving a student teaching placement. If asked to interview, the candidate must immediately make arrangements with the school district and notify their Student Teaching Placement Coordinator in the Lauby Teacher Education Center (TEC) of the date of the interview.
- Student teaching interviews are not the same as a student teaching placement confirmation. After the interview is completed, the district will contact the TEC with the school district's placement decision.
- Candidates are prohibited from being employed by the school district of their student teaching site.
Dismissal from the teacher education program, including pre-student teaching clinical experiences or student teaching experiences
The teacher candidate has the right to:
- Appeal his/her dismissal from the teacher education program, including pre-student teaching clinical or student teaching experiences, with the Guidelines for Submitting Student Appeals Procedure.
The teacher candidate has the responsibility to:
- Be well-informed regarding the appeal procedure and to follow said procedure.
Evaluation of the candidate's progress toward licensure
The teacher candidate has the right to:
- Be recommended for licensure when he/she has successfully completed an Illinois State University entitlement program in teacher education.
- Appeal any evaluation of his/her progress toward recommendation for licensure in courses, clinical or student teaching settings, or any other regularly provided or required activity having a direct bearing on his/her being recommended for licensure, with the Guidelines for Submitting Student Appeals Procedure.
The teacher candidate has the responsibility to:
- Pursue any questions of evaluation with appropriate instructors at the time of the latter's assessment of the candidate's work.
- Complete and return to the Illinois State University Office of Evaluations an "Application for Teaching License" along with an application for a degree.
Failure to recommend the candidate for licensure in a timely manner
The teacher candidate has the right to:
- Appeal this denial consistent with the Guidelines for Submitting Student Appeals Procedure.
The teacher candidate has the responsibility to:
- Follow the procedures established for the appeal of such denial.