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REQUIRED STEPS FOR JOINING THE CPS STUDENT-TEACHING INITIATIVE

CPS is committed to attracting the most competent student teachers from Chicago-area universities, as well as in-state and out-of-state schools of education, by offering support through the final phases of the traditional teacher preparation process.

If you are enrolled in a traditional teacher preparation program and are interested in becoming a student teacher in CPS, follow these steps:

1. Complete your college sophomore year successfully. The Illinois State Board of Education will not recognize student-teaching experiences completed before junior year. Out-of-state student teachers should contact their state's teacher certification office for information.

2. Visit CPS schools to fulfill your clinical observation hours. Observing in CPS schools, although not required for a student-teaching placement in CPS, can help you identify a potential cooperating teacher or school. For the CPS school directory, go to .

3. Complete the required coursework and requirements mandated by your college.

4. Pass the Illinois Basic Skills Test and the Content Area Test as required by your college (the Assessment of Professional Teaching can be taken during or after student teaching). For more information about Illinois certification tests, visit .

5. Prepare an impressive student-teaching application for your college's clinical placement office with the following information:

The dates you will begin and end student teaching
The grades or subject areas you are interested in student teaching
Three to five CPS schools-in order of preference-where you would like to complete your student teaching based on your visits to these schools (if possible)
An updated resume that includes your experience with students
A cover letter that highlights your success in the teacher preparation program and your interest in an urban educational setting
A copy of your transcripts or a course history with grades earned
Any other materials required by your university

In CPS, student-teaching placements are usually arranged the semester before the student-teaching experience.

6. Follow your college's protocol for submitting this application and enrolling in the student-teaching course.

7. Get approval from your college's clinical placement office to student teach in CPS.

College clinical placement offices can handle student-teaching placements directly or ask for assistance from the CPS Student-Teaching Initiative by calling 773-553-1191 or e-mailing .

The Student-Teaching Initiative works with the CPS Area Instructional Officers to identify schools that provide meaningful student-teaching experiences by demonstrating the following characteristics:

Good leadership
A well-organized curriculum
An active professional learning community
A low incidence of serious discipline problems

Retired CPS teachers and administrators with successful careers in education are also available through the Student-Teaching Initiative to serve as university supervisors.

REQUIRED STUDENT TEACHER REGISTRATION PROCESS

Recognizing our professional responsibility to our student body and ensuring proper alignment with the Illinois School Code, the Student-Teaching Program requires all prospective student teachers to complete the student-teaching registration process for CPS student-teaching placement approval.

Below are the required student teacher registration forms that must be completed for CPS student-teaching placement approval:

Online Student Teacher Registration Form- Please complete this online form by clicking on the link below, and print a completed copy to include with the other forms in your Student-Teaching Registration Packet.

http://www.cps-humanresources.org/STI/registration.htm
Confidentiality Agreement - Please review, sign and date.
Background Investigation Authorization and Release - Please complete this form in its entirety. No copies or faxes will be accepted, only originals.
Certification of Freedom from Tuberculosis - Please have your physician complete this form or, in lieu of the form, please provide documentation from your physician documenting negative TB test results, dated no more than 1 year prior to the starting date of student-teaching.

After completion of the registration forms, please submit the completed packet to your respective University/College School of Education Placement Office to be forwarded to the Chicago Public Schools Department of Human Resources Office for processing and approval.

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INTERESTED IN HOSTING A STUDENT TEACHER?

If you are a CPS teacher with at least three years of successful experience who would like to host a student teacher, or a CPS administrator who would like to host student teachers at your school, . If you have any questions, please call (773) 553-1191 or email us at .

CPS STUDENT-TEACHING HANDBOOK

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NEED A PLACE TO LIVE DURING STUDENT-TEACHING?

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Note: The above documents are available in the Portable Document Format (PDF). Download the freeif you cannot view PDF files.

Legal Statement (Title IX): It is the policy of the Board of Education of the City of Chicago not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability or sex. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the regulations promulgated thereunder concerning sex discrimination should be referred to the Title IX Officer, Chicago Public Schools, 125 S. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois 60603, 773-553-2688 (TTY-773-553-2699).